Reckless allegations against newly inducted Ministers in Tamil Nadu will affect their performance: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has criticized the spread of unverified allegations against government ministers on social media. The court ordered a petitioner to apologize for a false post, emphasizing that such actions interfere with official duties.
Why it matters
This case highlights the legal tension between social media freedom and the protection of public officials from defamation.
Reckless allegations made on social media against the newly inducted Ministers in the Tamil Nadu government would cause unnecessary anxiety in the minds of those individuals and ultimately interfere with the performance of their official duties, the Madras High Court has said.
Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy made the observation while directing DMK sympathiser Vinoth Suriya Kumar to file an affidavit expressing regret for his false X post alleging that the Palani Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple land was registered in the name of a relative of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister Ramesh.
The affidavit must clearly mention that the message was posted without verification of the facts and that the content creator shall verify the prima facie existence/source of facts before sharing any kind of content on his social media handles, the court ordered.
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