HC challenges Meta over closure of FB account, warns of compensation up to Rs 5 lak

himachaleditor November 5, 2026 2 minutes read

Shimla, Nov 5

Himachal Pradesh High Court has taken a firm stand against the arbitrary closure of Facebook accounts, directing Meta to restore an account belonging to a petitioner within the stipulated period or face compensation of up to Rs 5 lakh.

Former Advocate General and senior advocate Vinay Sharma has challenged Meta’s action of shutting down his Facebook account before the High Court, raising questions over the arbitrary exercise of powers by the social media platform.

During the hearing, the High Court observed that no Facebook account could be closed arbitrarily and directed Meta to restore the petitioner’s account within the time prescribed by the court.

The court further warned that failure to comply with its directions could invite compensation of up to Rs 5 lakh against Meta.

The proceedings have brought the accountability of global social media platforms and their power to suspend users’ accounts under judicial scrutiny. The matter also raises questions about the remedies available to users when their social media accounts are disabled without adequate justification or an effective opportunity to challenge the decision.

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The High Court has fixed November 26 for the next hearing, when the court is expected to examine Meta’s compliance with its directions and consider further proceedings in the matter.

Senior advocate Vinay Sharma is contesting the action, seeking judicial intervention against what he considers an arbitrary closure of his Facebook account.

Note: The report is based on the information visible in the supplied social media post. The precise operative directions and case particulars should be verified from the court order before publication.