The Bombay high court on Thursday asked the state government to file its reply in connection with a petition demanding a ban on social networking site, Orkut, for hosting an anti-Shivaji Web community.

A Division Bench of Justices H S Bedi and V M Kanade on Thursday asked the state government to file a reply in this regard within a week.

In his Public Interest Litigation in the court, Subodh Balsaraf, a Thane resident, has contended that Orkut used "slang, rude and vulgar language" about the great Maratha king Shivaji.

The community had been blocked by the Pune police after a few violent incidents were reported in the city when its existence came to light two weeks ago.

Though the community is currently inaccessible, the petitioner has demanded that Orkut, which has captured the fancy of many Indians, be banned.

Balsaraf contended that even after filing a complaint in Kapurbawade police station in Thane, authorities have taken no action.