Amidst controversy over the prosecution of objectionable contents on social networking sites, the Delhi High Court on Monday adjourned the hearing of a petition filed by Google and Facebook till Jan 19.

On Jan 13, the government sanctioned prosecution of executives of the popular sites over objectionable contents that are posted on their webpages.

Executives from 21 Internet companies and websites, including Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Yahoo and YouTube, were summoned to face a trial for purportedly hosting offensive content by the trial court in a hearing in December.

A local court had threatened the websites of internet giants Google and Facebook can be blocked if they are unable to find a way to remove objectionable contents.

Based on a complaint filed by a journalist Vinay Rai, Metropolitan Magistrate Sudesh Kumar had directed the Indian government to take "immediate appropriate steps" and also file a report in the court.

The magistrate of the trial court had observed that the material submitted by the complainant contained obscene pictures and derogatory articles pertaining to various Hindu gods, Prophet Muhammad and Jesus Christ.