Today, On 2nd September, The Supreme Court offered insights on dealing with social media abuse and trolling while granting bail to Bibhav Kumar, an aide of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in a case involving the alleged assault on Swati Maliwal. The Court’s observations highlighted the growing concern over social media harassment and the need for individuals to navigate such challenges carefully.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court opined on Monday that the most effective way to handle social media abuse and trolling is to simply ignore it.
A Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan made these observations while granting bail to Bibhav Kumar, an aide of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in the case involving the alleged assault on Member of Parliament Swati Maliwal.
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During the proceedings, Maliwal’s counsel argued that the crime against her extended beyond the physical assault, continuing through social media harassment.
The counsel submitted,
“The petitioner and his supporters have been trolling me on X and across other platforms,”
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kumar, argued,
“Do I have control over social media? Your Lordships are well aware of the extent to which we, including judges, are trolled. It’s an exalted office.”
Justice Bhuyan acknowledged the issue, stating,
“Trolling is unfortunate. Yes, we too get trolled from one side when we issue orders in favour of the other.”
Justice Kant then offered advice on handling social media trolls, saying,
“There exists a large group of irresponsible individuals who are unaware of their rights and duties. They will continue to attack, but you must ignore them. Eventually, their credibility will be lost.”
Kumar ultimately granted bail, but it subject to strict conditions.
On July 12, the Delhi High Court rejected Mr. Kumar’s request for bail, citing his “considerable influence” and determining that there were no sufficient grounds to grant him the relief.
However, in granting bail today, the Supreme Court emphasized the legal principle that “bail is the rule, jail is the exception,” a standard it has upheld in the cases of Mr. Sisodia and Ms. Kavitha. The court also highlighted the right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution, reiterating its stance from previous rulings that restricting someone’s liberty should not be a routine practice, as doing so carries significant consequences.
The justices emphasized the unfortunate reality that they, too, face trolling whenever their rulings favour one side in a case. This commentary reflects the broader challenges of navigating the digital age, where social media abuse has become an increasingly common issue for public figures and institutions alike.