Delhi High Court restrains circulation of sexually explicit video of judicial officer
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court has restrained sharing and posting of a "sexually explicit" video of a judicial officer and a woman that surfaced on November 29 and was circulated on social media platforms, saying its circulation would cause irreparable harm to the privacy rights of the plaintiff.
In an order late Wednesday night, Justice Yashwant Varma allowed a prayer to "conceal" the identity of the aggrieved party, and said an ad interim ex-parte injunction was warranted as the circulation of the video was in violation of several laws.
The judge noted that the full court of the high court has itself taken cognisance of the incident on its administrative side, and pursuant to a resolution, its registrar general has conveyed to authorities the need to take appropriate action for blocking the video over all messaging and social media platforms as well as through internet service providers (ISPs).
"Bearing in mind the sexually explicit nature of the contents of that video and taking into consideration the imminent, grave and irreparable harm that is likely to be caused to the privacy rights of the plaintiff an ad interim ex parte injunction is clearly warranted," the court said in its order.
The content, if circulated amongst parties and users of the services provided by the defendant number 1 to 4 (social media platforms), would also appear to, prima facie, violate the legally acceptable terms of use as adopted by the defendants, the court observed.
The court also asked the Centre to ensure that all further steps as warranted in terms of the communication of the registrar general are taken and a compliance report is submitted in these proceedings.
The order was passed on a lawsuit by one of the persons in the video and it sought a permanent injunction restraining publication and telecast of the "purported video dated March 9, 2022.
The plaintiff was represented by lawyers Ashish Dixit, Amit Sharma and Vandana Sachdeva.
The lawsuit was taken up for hearing on "urgent mentioning and in light of the imminent and irreparable harm that is likely to be caused to the plaintiff".
The court issued notices to the Centre and social media platforms on the lawsuit and listed the case for further hearing on December 9.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
NDA govt created 'unnecessary controversy' over Manmohan Singh's cremation, memorial: Ashok Gehlot
Jaipur (PTI): Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday accused the NDA government of creating an "unnecessary controversy" over the cremation and memorial of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Gehlot claimed that it was under public pressure that the BJP government announced plans to build a memorial for Singh in the future.
Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences on Thursday night. He was 92.
"The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has created an unnecessary controversy over the cremation and memorial of a great personality like Dr Manmohan Singh," Gehlot said on X.
He further stated, "The people of the country have expressed their displeasure over this step of the government, and then, under the pressure of public sentiment, the BJP government announced to build a memorial in the future."
He added that the Government of India is conducting the cremation of a respected personality at Nigam Bodh Ghat instead of any special place.
"In 2010, after the death of former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, without any demand from the BJP, the Congress government spoke to his family and immediately allotted a special place for his last rites in Jaipur, and a memorial was built there," Gehlot said.
After the death of Bal Thackeray in Maharashtra in 2012, the Congress government allotted a special place in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park for his last rites, he noted.
The former CM said that while Congress has always given respectful farewells to leaders of all parties, such behavior by the BJP toward Manmohan Singh is "unfortunate".
The mortal remains of Manmohan Singh reached Delhi's Nighambodh Ghat crematorium for last rites on Saturday. The procession carrying Singh's mortal remains reached the crematorium at around 11.30 am, where the last rites will be performed shortly.
