Trolled High Court judge seeks details of offensive messages on social media

Chennai: The Madras high court on Friday directed filing of an affidavit on “abusive” and “defamatory” messages degrading the judiciary in social media allegedly posted by persons angered by the court's observations regarding the striking government employees and teachers.

Justice N. Kirubakaran gave the directive to a group of advocates after they brought to his notice that “abusive, malicious, defamatory, false and obscene messages are spreading virally in the social media, accusing and degrading the judiciary in general and this court, in particular”.

Responding, the judge, known for his several socially sensitive and humane verdicts of far-reaching gains to the underdog, lamented that public criticism of judicial directives without going into details has become a habit for all, including panelists on TV debates. He recalled his own experience receiving letters slamming him for his order making helmets compulsory and said he had not been rebuked in such manner “even by my parents and teachers”.