Jalandhar Court Issues 24-Hour Ultimatum to Social Media Platforms
A local court in Jalandhar delivered a decisive order on Thursday. The court instructed major social media platforms to take down a controversial video clip featuring former Delhi chief minister Atishi. The platforms must act within twenty-four hours.
Platforms Directed to Remove Content
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Harpreet Kaur presided over the hearing. The court specifically named Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, and Telegram in its order. These companies must remove the video clip shared by functionaries of the BJP, SAD, and Congress parties.
The court's directive goes beyond the original video. It orders the removal and blocking of all identical, mirror, or derivative versions of the objectionable content. This action will occur whenever the state cybercrime cell provides specific account details and URLs.
The court also mandated the preservation of all related information and records. This step ensures that potential evidence remains intact and is not compromised.
Forensic Report Reveals Doctored Content
The prosecution presented a crucial forensic report to the court. The report concluded that the word 'Guru' was not uttered by Atishi in the audio extracted from the video file. Experts based this finding on auditory and spectrographic examination along with metadata analysis.
Magistrate Harpreet Kaur observed the forensic report established the video with subtitles was doctored. A review of the clip showed the material could likely incite public disorder. This finding formed a key basis for the court's decision to allow the police application.
Legal Consequences for Non-Compliance
The court order carries significant legal weight for the social media intermediaries. It states these platforms will forfeit their exemption from liability under the law if they fail to observe their obligations. Failure to remove or disable access to the offending content despite the court order would trigger this consequence.
The police had argued the posts could affect communal harmony, incite religious discord, and disturb public order in Punjab. The court found merit in these concerns given the doctored nature of the video.
Wide Circulation and Political Fallout
The order listed numerous URLs where the video was shared. These included posts by:
- Delhi BJP ministers Kapil Mishra and Manjinder Singh Sirsa
- Official BJP handles
- RSS mouthpiece Panchjanya
- Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal
- Congress MLAs Pargat Singh and Sukhpal Singh Khaira
- Amritsar MP Gurjit Singh Aujla
- BJP leader Jai Inder Kaur
- Several other individuals
The Jalandhar police's FIR in this case had already sparked a political controversy. The Delhi Assembly Speaker viewed the police action as a potential breach of privilege. On January 10, the Speaker sent notices to the Punjab DGP, Special DGP (cybercrime), and Jalandhar police commissioner.
These officers received a deadline until Thursday evening to submit written explanations. They were required to provide copies of the complaint, the FIR, and the forensic laboratory report.
The court's swift order underscores the legal system's growing role in policing doctored content on digital platforms, especially when such material threatens public peace.
