Social media has given fertile ground for self-appointed crusaders with no cause: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court on Thursday rued how social media has given fertile ground for the rise of "self-appointed crusaders" who use their relative anonymity to spew unprovoked and malicious opinions on the internet. .Justice Devan Ramachandran made these observations after a former judicial officer S Sudeep failed to appear before the Court even though it had summoned him over a Facebook post that derided the Court and the judge.The Court lamented the rampant misuse of social media, a powerful tool, tarnished by a few."The tragedy with the present days is that busybodies feel that they can vitriolically(sic) say and comment about anything on social media, under the impression that no accountability will come to be on them. Social media is good- in the hands of the good and the worthy. But for some, it is an unrestrained playground for their vilest predilections. It takes all kinds to make the world including the "self-appointed crusaders" with no cause. One can only leave them to their mischief and to let them wait until the long arms of the law reaches them," the Court said in its order..The Court clarified that free speech is definitely a cornerstone of the internet but that the actions of a few unbridled individuals would force even the sanest of individuals to hope that the law would be able to regulate online spaces."Free speech is the key to internet and I am personally a strong votary of the same. The power of expression is a most valuable and forceful facet of human existence, but a few - as the individual we notice here - push this freedom to extremes, unfortunately goaded by cyber "friends" who by their "likes" and "comments" spur on but never to be part of the consequences into which he will finally be pushed into. These are instances which would compel even right thinking individuals to seek regulation of online spaces," the Court said..On December 17, the Court had been handed over a copy of a Facebook post put up the former judicial officer with derisive comments against the Court while it was hearing the case regarding fake antiques scam in which notorious conman Monson Mavunkal is the prime accused.The post, Justice Ramachandran had noted, was disrespectful towards the Court and even made personal attacks against the judge after the Court had issued the order dated on December 4, 2021 pulling up the State Police Chief. "I am not concerned about judges. This man can abuse me, disrespect me, hurl vitriol against me but I am sitting in a chair that is capable of withstanding all this. He can write whatever he wants but if he intervenes in an ongoing investigation, as I had gotten a prima facie impression, then I must step in", the Court had remarked. .The Court had, therefore, directed the registry to assess the veracity of the post and if found to be authentic, immediately issue notice to enforce personal appearance.However, according to the report handed over by the High Court Registry, it appeared that he instantaneously responded, once again online, ridiculing this court and calling it fascist, "all because this court wanted to hear him and verify if there was anything to what he posted online".The registry also reported to the judge that man had put up posts saying that he would harm himself. "He is now comparing himself to Stan Swamy and Judge Loya, that's what the registry is telling me, threatening that if the Court does something, he will do something. Obviously this man is not in his senses", the judge remarked, shaking his head. The Court derided the man for not having responded to the summons and appeared personally before it. "The scenario is thus clear, the mindset of this individual is nihilistic and I therefore close this opportunity of hearing to him, recognising that he will have nothing worthwhile to to submit," the order stated..While the Director General of Prosecution TA Shaji once again pressed the Court to initiate contempt against the former judicial officer, the Court declined to do so. "He is looking to be a self proclaimed martyr, as if he is the subject of some oppression. Waiting for police to create a scene. The man is hallucinating. He is disappointed that he could not create a scene. He wanted his 15 minutes of fame by taking the High Court for a ride. I will not initiate contempt, he is not worth it. He will not get that publicity from this court," the Court said..Instead, the Court said in its order, "The man in question seeks relevance through his wanton utterances; and the greatest punishment I can offer him is to treat them as inconsequential and deny him his "15 minutes of fame" trying to ride on this court".Therefore, the court dismissed the summons and directed the Registry to take necessary action on the posts as per law after obtaining the necessary orders from Chief Justice S Manikumar..This is not the first time that former judicial officer has been in hot water for his controversial social media posts.He had faced disciplinary enquiry by the High Court for publicly criticising judgments of the Kerala High Court, including one rendered by Justice Ramachandran. In July this year, he tendered his resignation to Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, S Manikumar and announced the same via Facebook.