: सोशल नेटवर्क साइटों के कंटेंट की पीसीआई चेयरमैन ने की पड़ताल : बोले- धार्मिक मामलों पर कुछ लोग घृणा भड़काने में लगे हैं : पूरे मसले पर ये है जस्टिस काटजू का बयान : There has recently been some controversy regarding the contents of some social net work sites. In this connection I wish to state that I have carefully examined and perused the contents, pictorial and other, regarding the objectionable material. The pictures and other contents show religious figures of certain communities in a highly offensive and even pornographic manner. Such material is bound to create religious hatred and lead to most undesirable consequences.
It must be realized that India is a country of great diversity. We have a large number of religions, castes, languages, ethnic groups, etc. The only way our country can be held together is by giving equal respect to all communities. The media and all persons should take care that the religious and other sentiments of any community should not be hurt. The pictures I have seen not only hurt the religious sentiments of members of certain religious communities, but are also outrageous, inflammatory and egregious, and are bound to disturb peace and result in serious law and order problems.
I have said several times earlier that while I strongly support freedom of the media, no freedom is absolute, and all freedoms are subject to reasonable restrictions in the public interest. Thus, Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution which provides for freedom of the media, is subject to Article 19 (2) which states that restrictions can be placed on this freedom in the interest of public order, decency and morality.
Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code makes it a criminal offence to promote, or attempt to promote disharmony, feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will between different religious communities or groups, or do an act which is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religious groups or communities, and which is likely to disturb the public tranquility.
I have carefully perused the material in question and am of the opinion that there can be no manner of doubt that they attract Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code. Hence I am of the view that such offensive material should be removed or filtered out from the social network sites on the internet immediately.
Justice Markandey Katju
12.12.2011
