The Delhi High Court has directed major social media platforms to remove and block online content that allegedly made serious accusations against a sitting judge of the court. The bench observed that the material, at first glance, appeared capable of undermining public confidence in the justice system and warranted urgent intervention.
Background of the Case
The matter came before the court in a criminal contempt petition filed by the Delhi High Court Bar Association. The petition alleged that several videos and social media posts circulating on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, X and LinkedIn contained allegations against a sitting judge and the judiciary.
According to the petition, the content attributed improper motives and other serious allegations in relation to judicial proceedings. The association sought initiation of contempt proceedings and requested immediate removal of the material from online platforms.
The Division Bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna and Justice Madhu Jain noted that freedom of speech is a constitutional right, but it does not extend to content that prima facie scandalises courts or interferes with the administration of justice.
“The impugned material, prima facie, warrants immediate intervention by this Court,” the bench observed while considering the request for interim relief.
The court distinguished fair criticism of judicial orders from allegations made without lawful basis against judges. It observed that criticism of judgments is permissible, but accusations of corruption, collusion or improper motives stand on a different footing under the law.
Referring to the content placed before it, the bench stated that the material appeared to contain scandalous allegations against members of the judiciary and could affect public confidence in the justice delivery system.
The court also commented on the role of social media intermediaries, observing that while online platforms facilitate communication, they must act responsibly when unlawful content comes to their notice.
During the hearing, counsel appearing for Meta, Google and LinkedIn informed the court that the identified content would be removed from their platforms and that steps would be taken to prevent its re-uploading.
The court directed the concerned platforms to take down the identified videos and related content, block access to the URLs, and suspend the relevant accounts within 24 hours of receiving the order. It further directed them to preserve subscriber information, registration details and technical records connected with the uploads and place the information before the court in a sealed or password-protected format.
Issuing notice in the contempt petition, the Delhi High Court ordered the immediate removal and blocking of the identified content and restrained further dissemination of the same or substantially similar material.
The court directed the social media platforms to comply with the interim directions and listed the matter before the roster bench on July 9, 2026, for further proceedings.
Case Details:
Case Title: Delhi High Court Bar Association v. Dr. Kapil Kakar & Ors.
Case Number: CONT.CAS.(CRL.) 9/2026
Judges: Justice Neena Bansal Krishna and Justice Madhu Jain
Decision Date: June 8, 2026
