The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Union Government, States, Union Territories and social media platforms Meta and X on a plea concerning the publication of photographs, videos and identities of accused persons by police authorities on social media.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana, took up the plea filed by Hemendra Patel. The matter raises concerns over police-generated online content that may portray accused persons in a degrading manner or affect their right to a fair trial.
Background of the Case
The petition seeks safeguards against police organisations uploading material that reveals the faces or identities of accused persons, including images showing them handcuffed, tied, beaten, made to kneel or otherwise subjected to allegedly degrading treatment.
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the petitioner, told the Bench that Meta and X had been added as parties because their existing policies did not specifically address such police-generated content.
"This time we have made the social media platforms as party... neither of their policies have covered this," he submitted.
The plea also seeks appropriate guidelines for police departments and mechanisms for the prompt removal of such material from social media platforms.
Court's Observation
The Bench acknowledged the need for a regulatory framework governing such content. CJI Surya Kant observed,
"A regulatory regime has to be there."
The petition also referred to directions issued by different High Courts on the issue. Sankaranarayanan submitted that those directions showed the need for a broader and uniform mechanism.
Decision
The Supreme Court issued notices to the Union Government, States, Union Territories, Meta Platforms Inc. and X Corp., seeking their responses to the issues raised in the petition.
Case Details
Case Title: Hemendra Patel v. Union of India and Ors.
Case Number: W.P.(C) No. 311/2026; Diary No. 32704/2026
Judge: Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana
Decision Date: August 18, 2026
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