Technology · India Bureau
Bombay High Court rules WhatsApp video circulation punishable under SC/ST Act
The Bombay High Court has held that circulating videos of members of scheduled castes and tribes on messaging platforms constitutes an offence under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The ruling emerged from a case involving alleged coercion and subsequent harassment.
LSN India ·
In a significant judgment on digital harassment, the Bombay High Court has determined that sharing videos of individuals belonging to scheduled castes and tribes on WhatsApp and similar platforms violates provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
The court's decision came while examining a case in which an individual allegedly demanded favours from a person belonging to an SC/ST community. When the victim refused to comply, the accused circulated videos of the victim through WhatsApp, subjecting the person to public humiliation and social ostracism.
The ruling establishes that such digital dissemination of videos, particularly when used as a tool of coercion or harassment against members of SC/ST communities, attracts criminal liability under the anti-atrocities legislation. The judgment underscores the courts' recognition of how modern technology platforms can be weaponized to perpetrate discrimination and social harm against vulnerable communities.
The High Court's decision is expected to set an important precedent for handling cases involving digital harassment and caste-based discrimination, particularly as messaging applications and social media increasingly become vehicles for such offences. Legal experts view the ruling as an important step in addressing evolving forms of caste-based violence in the digital age.