Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has voiced concern over the misuse of social media platforms, denouncing the spread of factually incorrect and unfounded statements regarding pending cases.
Initiating a contempt action against Assam legislator Karim Uddin Barbhuiya for his misleading Facebook post regarding a case reserved for judgment, the top court expressed dismay at the growing trend of social media misuse, which under the guise of freedom of expression, tarnishes the integrity of the court and sowed misinformation among the masses.
“It is a matter of serious concern that nowadays there has been a profuse misuse of social media platforms on which the messages, comments, articles etc. are being posted in respect of the matters pending in the court,” lamented a Bench of justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi in its order recently.
Serious consideration
Comments or posts published in respect of the pending cases, through social media platforms under the guise of the right to freedom of speech and expression, deserves serious consideration since they may have the tendency of undermining the authority of the courts or of interfering with the course of justice, the Bench noted
“It is very usual that the Judges do react during the course of arguments being made by the lawyers, sometimes in favour of and sometimes against a party to the proceeding. However, that does not give any right or leeway to either of the parties or their lawyers to the proceedings to post comments or messages on the social media distorting the facts or not disclosing the correct facts of the proceedings,” held the Bench.
