Now Reading: Calcutta High Court asks police for SOP on social media posts targeting judges
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Calcutta High Court asks police for SOP on social media posts targeting judges
Calcutta High Court asks police for SOP on social media posts targeting judges
The Calcutta High Court has directed the West Bengal Director General of Police to submit a report on whether the state police has a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for acting against "grossly…
The Calcutta High Court has directed the West Bengal Director General of Police to submit a report on whether the state police has a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for acting against "grossly offensive" and "contumacious" social media posts targeting judges and courts. Justice Jay Sengupta passed the order on May 21 while hearing a criminal revision petition filed by Hindu monk Swami Pradiptananda, also known as Kartik Maharaj.
The court referred to YouTube videos that allegedly made "wanton aspersions" against the High Court. The order noted that when the bench had not assembled, videos circulated online claiming adverse developments were happening "behind closed doors." The judge also recorded "defamatory and contumacious outbursts" directed at High Court judges and described several videos as "very disturbing."
Justice Sengupta directed the DGP to file a report within four weeks clarifying whether an SOP exists for handling such posts, including procedures for content removal. The case involves rape allegations against Kartik Maharaj, who denies the charges and claims political targeting. The matter will next be heard on June 22.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The court's intervention highlights growing judicial concern over online attacks on judges, a trend seen across several states. The key question is whether the West Bengal Police has any formal mechanism to identify and remove defamatory content quickly. Without a clear SOP, action depends on individual officers' discretion, leading to inconsistent enforcement. The court's order effectively puts the onus on the state to codify a process. The June 22 hearing will reveal if the police has a system in place or must now create one from scratch. This case also adds a layer to the broader debate on social media regulation in India, where balancing free speech with judicial dignity remains contentious.
Source: millenniumpost.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
