'X' account of Dr Abby Philips aka The Liver Doctor, vocal AYUSH critic, withheld
Kerala-based hepatologist, Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, widely known as 'The Liver Doctor' in the online medical community, has had his Twitter account, 'X,' withheld globally due to a legal demand.
This action was taken in response to a Bengaluru civil court's ex-parte injunction order issued on September 24. The order, granted at the request of Himalaya Wellness Corporation, accused Dr. Abby Philips of making defamatory allegations against the company.
The court order, based on Sector 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure 1908, prohibits Dr. Abby Philips from tweeting, making, publishing, retweeting, or republishing defamatory remarks about Himalaya Wellness Company or its products, as outlined in Sector 79 of the Information Technology Act 2000.
Himalaya Wellness Corporation's complaint stated that the "derogatory statements and materials" about their products were false and unjustified. The court's decision highlighted the need for an ad-interim ex-parte injunction to instruct the party responsible for such postings to remove them promptly, minimizing harm to the affected party.
The next court hearing on this matter is scheduled for January 5, 2024.
Meanwhile, many users on the micro-blogging site have expressed their disapproval of the account withholding, citing Dr. Philips's role in raising awareness about the side effects and impacts of the modern pharmaceutical industry. He has also been actively debunking myths and misconceptions about various medicines, diseases, viruses, and more.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
