Apologise on WhatsApp for fake message, Madras high court tells bail applicant
TNN | Jan 31, 2020, 04.50 AM IST
CHENNAI: Of all the pollution affecting Tamil Nadu, derogatory messages posted on social media takes the first place. Without eradicating such online abuse, people of the state cannot be safe, the Madras high court observed on Thursday.
“Mine would be the first vote for freedom of expression. But irresponsible, unverified and unsubstantiated social media posts cannot be tolerated,” Justice N Seshasayee said.
The judge made the observation while hearing a bail application moved by A Zakir Hussian of Coimbatore, who was arrested for uploading defamatory, derogatory and unverified allegations against the Coimbatore Corporation and local administration minister S P Velumani in connection with a solar power scheme. The court also asked the accused to post an unconstitutional apology for forwarding such derogatory and irresponsible post in the same WhatsApp group for his bail application to be considered.
When the plea came up for hearing, public prosecutor A Natarajan opposed it and said the petitioner posted such messages on social media habitually. This the third case he is facing for making such derogatory comments on social media including Facebook and WhatsApp.
Pointing out to a transcription of the audio message posted by Hussain, the prosecutor submitted that the petitioner had caused public unrest by making unsubstantiated statements that solar panels would cause skin diseases and kidney ailments to people residing near them.
Perusing the transcript, Justice Seshasayee said, “On what basis the petitioner had made such statements? Is he qualified to give such opinion? Currently, this sin is inflicting the entire state. They don’t even spare the judiciary.”
Can such statements be permitted and tolerated as freedom of speech, he wondered. Such freedom must be exploited with responsibility. If people like the petitioner make such irresponsible statements, then jail would be the right place for them, he added.
TNN | Jan 31, 2020, 04.50 AM IST
CHENNAI: Of all the pollution affecting Tamil Nadu, derogatory messages posted on social media takes the first place. Without eradicating such online abuse, people of the state cannot be safe, the Madras high court observed on Thursday.
“Mine would be the first vote for freedom of expression. But irresponsible, unverified and unsubstantiated social media posts cannot be tolerated,” Justice N Seshasayee said.
The judge made the observation while hearing a bail application moved by A Zakir Hussian of Coimbatore, who was arrested for uploading defamatory, derogatory and unverified allegations against the Coimbatore Corporation and local administration minister S P Velumani in connection with a solar power scheme. The court also asked the accused to post an unconstitutional apology for forwarding such derogatory and irresponsible post in the same WhatsApp group for his bail application to be considered.
When the plea came up for hearing, public prosecutor A Natarajan opposed it and said the petitioner posted such messages on social media habitually. This the third case he is facing for making such derogatory comments on social media including Facebook and WhatsApp.
Pointing out to a transcription of the audio message posted by Hussain, the prosecutor submitted that the petitioner had caused public unrest by making unsubstantiated statements that solar panels would cause skin diseases and kidney ailments to people residing near them.
Perusing the transcript, Justice Seshasayee said, “On what basis the petitioner had made such statements? Is he qualified to give such opinion? Currently, this sin is inflicting the entire state. They don’t even spare the judiciary.”
Can such statements be permitted and tolerated as freedom of speech, he wondered. Such freedom must be exploited with responsibility. If people like the petitioner make such irresponsible statements, then jail would be the right place for them, he added.
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