The Court called for adherence to journalistic norms and observed that any news or posts concerning the spiritual leader must be verified by local media channels and social media platforms before they are published.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently passed an interim order directing print media and social media platforms to remove derogatory content against spiritual leader Aacharya Shri Dhirendra Krishna Shastri [Ranjit Singh Patel v State].
Justice Sanjay Dwivedi further observed that any posts related to the Acharya should adhere to the norms of journalistic conduct.
“By way of interim measure, it is directed before publishing/displaying/posting any news/tidings relatable to Aacharya Shri Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, they should adhere to the norms of journalistic conduct and first ascertain the veracity of such news/tidings from the concerning person whether it is disgraceful for his image or not and then following the requirement of (Information Technology) Rules, 2021, shall float such news/tidings,” the Court directed.
The Court further ordered that the posts already published in electronic media tarnishing the image of Shastri, should be deleted immediately.
The Court was dealing with a petitioner by one, Ranjit Singh Patel who claimed defamatory posts were being circulated about Shastri on social media. These posts damaged the reputation of Shastri, who is the Peethadheeshwar (Chief Priest) of Shri Bageshwar Dham in Chhatarpur, the Court was told.
The counsel for the petitioner also provided specific posts and news articles concerning Acharya Shastri on both online and print media, which were allegedly derogatory.
The petitioner asserted that these posts directly attack the religious reverence of the spiritual leader and significantly distress the sentiments of Acharya’s followers.
The media platforms should have checked the veracity of such news before publishing it via such platforms, the petitioner’s counsel argued.
The Court was also told that many such posts were published at the instigation of a former MLA, Prajapati as he was “unhappy with the prodigy of Aacharya Shri Dhirendra Krishna Shastri.”
The petitioner’s counsel alleged that Prajapathi had collaborated with media outlets to intentionally damage the reputation of Aacharya Shastri publicly by sharing objectionable and baseless posts about the spiritual leader.
After considering these submissions, the Court proceeded to grant Shastri interim relief by ordering a takedown of derogatory posts against him.
The Court added that the veracity of any such news or posts must be verified by local media channels and social media platforms before they are published.
It must be determined if the posts/news are disgraceful for the leader’s image after taking into account the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the Court added.
The Court has listed the matter for hearing next in January 2024.
Advocate Pankaj Dubey represented the petitioner. Advocate Swati Aseem George appeared for the State of Madhya Pradesh.
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