The Supreme Court has emphasized the need for caution and responsibility in using social media, as it dismissed a petition filed by actor and former Tamil Nadu MLA S Ve Shekher. He had shared a Facebook post in 2018 that allegedly contained derogatory remarks against women journalists, leading to legal proceedings against him.
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and P K Mishra considered Shekher’s appeal against the July 14 order of the Madras High Court. The high court had rejected his plea to quash the criminal proceedings related to the offensive post he shared. The bench advised the advocate representing Shekher that individuals using social media should be acutely aware of its influence and widespread reach.
In response to the petitioner’s argument that he couldn’t read the contents of the post he shared due to applying medicine to his eyes that day, the bench stressed the importance of prudence while using social media. It indicated that if one chooses to use social media, they must be prepared for the potential consequences as well.
The Madras High Court’s ruling noted that Shekher had allegedly “published/circulated an abusive, derogatory and vulgar comment in his Facebook account” on April 19, 2018. Subsequently, a complaint was lodged with the Chennai Commissioner of Police, leading to an FIR and additional private complaints in various parts of Tamil Nadu.
During the case proceedings, Shekher’s counsel contended that he had forwarded the message without being aware of its content. He reportedly removed the contents within a few hours and issued an unconditional apology to the women journalists involved and the media.
The Madras High Court remarked that the content of the forwarded message was deeply offensive and disrespectful towards women journalists and the press in general. It highlighted the tremendous influence of social media, stating that messages spread on these platforms can rapidly reach every corner of the world.
The court also underlined the petitioner’s responsibility, given his stature, to be more mindful and cautious in making statements or sharing content on social media. It likened social media messages to arrows already released from a bow, suggesting that their impact is swift and far-reaching.
