Right to speech, expression cannot be exercised at cost of others dignity and integrity: SC
New Delhi, Oct 16 (PTI) The right to speech and expression cannot be exercised at the cost of others’ dignity and integrity, the Supreme Court said on Thursday as it cautioned about the dangers of “unregulated” social media saying incidents like the recent hurling of shoe towards Chief Justice of India B R Gavai are nothing but “money-spinning ventures”.
A bench of justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi made the remarks when Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocate Vikas Singh, who is also the president of Supreme Court Bar Association, sought urgent listing of plea for contempt action against 71-years-old advocate Rakesh Kishore, who hurled the shoe towards the CJI on October 6 during court proceedings.
“We are not against freedom of speech and expression but this right cannot be exercised at the cost of integrity and dignity of others,” the bench said, when Singh pointed out that Kishore has not expressed remorse and was giving interviews, which are circulating on social media affecting the institutional integrity of the apex court.
“Social media has gone berserk over the incident. He is giving interviews and these are going on and on and demeaning the institutional integrity and dignity. Please restrain social media from airing such content. I am seeking an order on the line of John Doe order,” Singh said.
A John Doe order is a type of legal order passed by a court that allows a person or entity to take action against an unknown party or parties.
At the outset, Mehta informed the bench that Attorney General R Venkataramani has granted his consent for initiating criminal contempt action against the lawyer as it was the question of institutional integrity.
