Supreme Court judge, Justice DY Chandrachud, on Friday earned plaudits for warning governments of consequences if they did not immediately stop harassing individuals with criminal cases for sharing their desperate calls for help on social media platforms. Justice Chandrachud-led Supreme Court Bench flagged the issue of threat of coercive action against people putting SOS calls on social media.
“We want to make it very clear that if citizens communicate their grievance on social media and internet then it cannot be said its wrong information”, Livelaw quoted the Supreme Court Bench as saying.
The top court added, “We don’t want any clampdown of information. We will treat it as a contempt of court if such grievances is considered for action.
Let a strong message go to all the states and DGP of states.”
The government lawyer, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, agreed as he said, “As an officer of the Court, I fully agree with what your lordships have said.”
The Supreme Court’s chilling warning came just days after the Uttar Pradesh’s Yogi Adityanath government registered a criminal case against an individual, who had taken to Twitter to seek desperate help for his grandfather. His grandfather later died.
“We don’t want any clampdown of information. We will treat it as a contempt of court if such grievances is considered for action.
Let a strong message go to all the states and DGP of states”, Supreme Court says in strong words.#COVID19.— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) April 30, 2021
The Indian government oo has had face flak for asking Twitter to remove certain posts since they projected the current regime in a poor light.
Meanwhile, Twitterati have been showering praises on Justice Chandrachud for his bold remarks against the government.
Thank you Justice Chandrachud for being a loud sane voice in the SC & at least trying to ask the right questions of this Government.
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) April 30, 2021
Thread. Justice Chandrachud rarely disappoints you. https://t.co/GCN0CRlrBD
— nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) April 30, 2021
Thanks for this Justice Chandrachud ???????? #covid https://t.co/tC4ssQcJ4b
— Gargi Rawat (@GargiRawat) April 30, 2021
Thank you Justice Chandrachud for upholding the dignity of the SC. Glad still some sane voices left and ask the right questions to the Govt.
— Jothimani (@jothims) April 30, 2021