On Thursday, the Bombay High Court expressed concern over the use of social media as a platform for pursuing personal disputes while hearing actor Salman Khan’s appeal in a defamation case against his neighbour. The Court indicated that parties should resolve their grievances through lawful forums rather than online campaigns, emphasising the growing judicial focus on accountability for content circulated on digital platforms.
The dispute stemmed from neighbouring properties in Panvel, where Salman Khan owns a farmhouse. His neighbour, Ketan Kakkad, has alleged that the actor violated environmental norms and obstructed access to his property. Kakkad subsequently shared posts on social media and participated in YouTube discussions concerning the controversy.
Contending that the statements were false, defamatory and intended to provoke communal sentiments, Khan instituted a defamation suit against Kakkad and several social media platforms, including Facebook, X, Google and YouTube. According to Khan, the allegations surfaced after a proposed land transaction involving a nearby plot was cancelled by authorities, while Kakkad maintained that his statements were based on facts and concerned matters already in the public domain.
Justice Sharmila Deshmukh observed that disputes between individuals should not be fought on social media and emphasised that digital platforms cannot be used as a shield for potentially defamatory content. During the hearing, the Court remarked that access to social media is not a licence to defame others, whether they are ordinary citizens or public figures. The Bench suggested that Kakkad consider removing the tweets and videos relating to the dispute and noted that even content uploaded by third parties could be taken down through intermediaries where necessary. Expressing disapproval of the continued circulation of such material, the Court observed that judicial time should not be spent determining whether such content ought to remain online.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 6.
Source PTI
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