Srinagar, Sept 10: A formal legal notice has been served upon Meta Platforms India Private Limited seeking restoration of a WhatsApp account allegedly banned on August 27, 2026, and seeking clarification on the grounds for the suspension.
The notice, dated September 8, was issued through Advocate Munish Sharma, who practises before the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, on behalf of advocate, social activist and former journalist Rasikh Rasool Bhat of Ahgam Rajwar, Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
According to the notice, the WhatsApp account linked to mobile number **** **** 7097 has remained inaccessible since the alleged ban. It states that the account contains chats, documents, photographs and other electronic communications relating to the account holder’s professional, personal and public-interest activities, including communications concerning complaints, investigations and proceedings before competent authorities and courts.
The notice calls upon Meta to restore the account if the suspension was imposed erroneously or is otherwise capable of being reversed under applicable law and the platform’s policies. It has also sought disclosure of the specific reason for the suspension or ban, including the relevant policy provision or category of alleged violation, subject to applicable legal restrictions.
A significant part of the notice concerns preservation of electronic evidence. Meta and WhatsApp have been called upon to preserve all relevant account data and electronic material lawfully retained by them, including chats, documents, photographs and communications, in accordance with applicable law and legitimate data-retention policies.
The notice further calls upon the company to refrain from deleting, destroying, modifying or otherwise altering relevant account data during the pendency of the request and any reasonably foreseeable legal proceedings.
Meta has also been asked to provide access to an appropriate review or appeal mechanism, wherever available, and communicate the outcome of any review undertaken pursuant to the notice.
The company has been called upon to submit a written response within 10 days of receiving the notice.
The notice states that failure to restore the account, provide a satisfactory explanation or take appropriate measures for preservation of relevant electronic evidence may prompt the client to pursue available legal remedies before the competent court or authority. These may include seeking restoration of the account, access to available account information and preservation of relevant electronic evidence.
The notice has been issued without prejudice to all rights and remedies available to the client under applicable law.
