Short Description: Tamil Nadu police have taken legal action against online defamation targeting a High Court judge over a temple ritual order, highlighting the fight against judicial intimidation.
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The intersection of law, social media, and judicial independence has come to the forefront with a significant action by Indian authorities. The Tamil Nadu Director General of Police has informed the Supreme Court that police are actively pursuing legal action against internet users who circulated defamatory and threatening content targeting Justice G R Swaminathan of the Madras High Court. This response comes after the judge ordered the traditional lighting of the Karthigai Deepam lamp on a specific structure at the Thiruparankundram Temple, a decision that sparked heated, and at times criminal, online backlash. The state’s affidavit details a focused effort to protect the judiciary from online harassment.
In a formal affidavit, DGP G Venkataraman outlined the specific legal action taken by the state’s Cyber Crime Wing. Authorities conducted targeted cyber patrolling to identify harmful content, flagging 30 specific URLs on major platforms like Facebook and Twitter (X) for content blocking. While the process of complete removal through intermediaries is ongoing, the police have registered formal cases under sections of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Furthermore, statewide directives have been issued to all police units to vigilantly monitor for and prevent any content that could scandalize the court, demonstrating a systematic approach to countering online threats to judicial officers.
This case underscores a critical issue in the digital age: the balance between free speech and the protection of institutional integrity. The initial petition, filed by an advocate, alleged that defamatory remarks against Justice Swaminathan had clear caste and religious undertones, and that authorities were initially slow to respond. The police affidavit, presented to the Supreme Court, serves as a detailed record of the state’s enforcement actions, aiming to assure the higher judiciary that attempts to intimidate or undermine its members through social media campaigns will be met with strict legal consequences. It sets a precedent for how judicial systems can defend their authority in the face of organized online vilification.
Short Summary: Tamil Nadu police have initiated strong enforcement actions, including cyber patrolling and legal cases, against individuals making defamatory remarks online about a High Court judge. This response, detailed in an affidavit to the Supreme Court, reinforces the principle that intimidation of the judiciary will not be tolerated, highlighting the ongoing challenge of protecting judicial independence from social media-driven harassment and ensuring legal consequences for such actions.
