The Delhi High Court on Wednesday ordered the authorities concerned to take all permissible steps to ensure that further sharing, distribution, forwarding or posting of the objectionable video of a district judge is immediately prohibited.
A video purportedly showing the judicial officer in an objectionable position with the staff in his chamber had gone viral on social media platforms.
“The Respondent shall take all permissible steps to ensure that further sharing, distribution, forwarding or posting of the offending video is immediately prohibited. Respondent No.5 (Union) shall also ensure that the Registrar General dated 29th November 2022 All further steps have been taken in terms of communication of the same and a compliance report has been submitted in these proceedings,” Justice Yashwant Verma observed.
The single-judge bench made the observation taking into account the explicit sexual nature of the content of the video and the imminent, grave and irreparable damage it is likely to cause to the privacy rights of the plaintiff.
The Court is hearing a suit seeking a permanent injunction restraining the Respondents, their affiliates, sister companies, agents and others from publishing/republishing/telecasting in any manner the alleged video dated March 9, 2022 Was, which is being broadcast. on various social media platforms and web portals from 29th November.
The suit was taken on urgent mention and keeping in view the imminent and irreparable damage caused to the plaintiff.
On examining the contents of the complaint, the court noted that Section 354C of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 as well as Section 67A of the Information and Crime Act technology Act, 2000 appears to be in violation if further dissemination, sharing and distribution of the video is allowed.
Justice Verma was of the opinion that the material, if distributed to the parties and users of the defendants’ services, appears to be in violation of the legally permissible terms of use adopted by them.
Additionally, the HC noted that the entire court itself had taken administrative cognizance of the incident, and as per a resolution passed on November 29, the Registrar General of the court, respondent no. 5 (Union) is required to take appropriate action to block the said video on all ISPs, messaging platforms and social media platforms.
The court will next hear the matter on December 9.
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