Raghav Chadha Gets Setback as Delhi HC Rejects Interim Relief Plea

The Delhi High Court has reserved its order on an interim plea filed by Raghav Chadha, who sought the removal of allegedly defamatory content circulating on social media after his entry into the Bharatiya Janata Party. During the hearing, the court made strong observations, stating that criticism, trolling, satire, and public commentary aimed at politicians are part of democratic discourse and cannot automatically be treated as a violation of privacy or personality rights. Justice Subramonium Prasad, while hearing the matter, orally remarked that political figures operate in the public sphere and must be prepared to face criticism over their decisions. The court noted that Raghav Chadha’s political move to join the BJP had naturally triggered reactions from the public and social media users. Prima facie, the bench observed that such criticism does not amount to infringement of personal or personality rights. In his petition, Raghav Chadha alleged that his name, image, and identity were being misused online through posts and campaigns intended to tarnish his reputation. He argued that a coordinated social media campaign was targeting him after his political shift, thereby damaging his public image. Chadha sought immediate relief from the court to restrain the circulation of such content. However, the High Court refused to grant interim protection at this stage. The bench emphasized that comments, memes, satire, or criticism directed at political leaders cannot be prohibited merely because they are uncomfortable or unpleasant. The court underlined that freedom of expression and political criticism are essential features of a democracy. The court also clarified that the matter does not appear to fall strictly within the scope of personality rights law. It observed that if a person believes their reputation has been harmed through false statements or malicious campaigns, the appropriate legal remedy would be to file a defamation suit rather than seek protection under personality rights. During the proceedings, the High Court suggested appointing an amicus curiae to assist in the case and subsequently reserved its interim order. At the same time, the court granted liberty to Raghav Chadha to pursue defamation proceedings if he believes his reputation has suffered due to the alleged online campaign.