Mumbai High Court deals with Shiv Sena MLA’s PIL abusing digital platform on influential people

The High Court noted that petitioners are open to abuse of social media and disposing of petitions. File | Image source: Vivek Bendre

The Mumbai High Court filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) with MLA on Wednesday (30 April 2025) in the Rajapur Assembly Constituency of Maharashtra, which raised serious concerns, which caused serious abuse and abuse of the Internet and social media platforms.

The petition claims that in the clothing of free speech, influential people are commercializing their content while deliberately spreading scandals, derogating and derogating India’s judiciary and senior executives, thus posing a serious threat to public order, harmony, harmony and the rule of law.

The respondents to the matter were the Indian government, Google LLC and satirist and stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra. MLA has listed Mr Kamra on YouTube and the government of India and Google for their failure to adjust such content.

The petitioner demands the implementation of the IT Act of 2000 and the Intermediary Guidelines (2021) to seek judicial directions to ensure that under the cape of satirical or critical, liability, responsible content review and protection of the judiciary from being targeted for commercial interests.

Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Ms. Karnik’s teacher judge questioned why Mr. Karnik added to the case and said it was a normal PIL demanding to curb influencers, public figures and comedians abused the digital platform and therefore could not grant relief.

“According to your statement, you may be abusing the social media platform and can be without giving the society a speech. Who will decide whether it is a purpose or abuse? I don’t know how to give this relief. It’s a selective goal. You’ve just blocked one person, but there are a few people who said about the judiciary and you’re not trying to them,” you’re not covered up. ”

Mr Samant argued that Mr Kamra’s tweet called the Supreme Court “the highest joke in the country” and made a contemptuous comment on retired Justice Dy Chandrachud.

“Kamra posts an image of his fingers on Twitter with a caption aimed at CJI Arvind Bobde, interpreted as showing the middle finger. Contempt proceedings initiated against Mr. Kamra in the Supreme Court; then Attorney General KK Venugopal opinions that Kamra’s tweets amount contempt. Stand-up video titled ‘Be Like’ uploaded on YouTube by Kamra containing vulgar and demeaning remarks about the judiciary,” the petition said.

The MLA also said the comedians wrote content that mocked independent agencies such as ED, CBI and the judiciary and redeemed such material through digital platforms, and recently uploaded a new video called “Naya Bharat” on YouTube with content that included competition; the video received 1.2 billion views.

Hearing this from the bench, “You can’t be sure what is reasonable and what is not.

Senior advocate Darius Khambata argued that the petition demanded only one defendant. “The petition seeks to be alert to the direction of social media. This matter is now from the Supreme Court.”

On a petition seeking social media alert committee formation, the bench said it was in the field of policy making and therefore it could not give guidance in prayer, he prayed to guide the IT department to implement IT bills and rules, which is general and broad guidance.

The court noted that petitioners were open to the proper power to abuse social media and to process petitions.