The Supreme Court of India has taken a decisive step against the misuse of social media platforms, particularly concerning ongoing legal cases. Expressing grave concern over the dissemination of inaccurate and misleading information on social media, especially regarding pending court matters, the Court initiated contempt proceedings against Assam MLA Karim Uddin Barbhuiya.
The contempt proceedings were prompted by a Facebook post made by Barbhuiya on March 20, falsely claiming that the Court had ruled in his favor in a case where judgment was actually reserved. This blatant misrepresentation of facts led the Court to take action to safeguard the sanctity of judicial proceedings.
Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta, representing the petitioner in the contempt case, argued that such posts undermine the integrity of the judicial process and merit intervention by the Court. On the other hand, Senior Advocate Dr. Menaka Guruswamy represented Barbhuiya in the proceedings.
The Court noted the seriousness of the situation, emphasizing that distorting the image of the judiciary and misrepresenting judicial remarks during proceedings is unacceptable. Such actions not only erode public confidence in the legal system but also prejudice the parties involved in the case.
The case at hand pertains to an election petition filed by Aminul Haque Laskar against Barbhuiya challenging the 2021 Assembly election results. Barbhuiya's victory was contested on grounds of alleged corrupt practices during nomination. The Gauhati High Court had dismissed Barbhuiya's plea to reject the election petition, leading him to appeal to the Supreme Court.
The Court stressed that parties to legal proceedings, as well as their representatives, must refrain from posting misleading information on social media that could interfere with the administration of justice. It emphasized the need for adherence to facts and the avoidance of actions that could prejudice ongoing legal processes.
In light of these concerns, the Supreme Court issued a notice to Barbhuiya, requiring his physical presence at the next hearing. Additionally, a copy of the order was directed to be provided to the Attorney General of India for further consideration. The matter is scheduled to be heard after four weeks.
This decisive action by the Supreme Court underscores its commitment to upholding the integrity of the judicial process and combatting the spread of misinformation, particularly on social media platforms. It serves as a reminder to all stakeholders in the legal system of their responsibility to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice.
