Mumbai

The Bombay High Court on Thursday observed that access to social media platforms does not give individuals the freedom to publish defamatory content, even if the target is a public figure, and advised actor Salman Khan's neighbour to consider removing his posts against the Bollywood star.

Hearing the matter, Justice Sharmila Deshmukh questioned the growing tendency to air grievances through social media rather than pursuing remedies through the appropriate authorities.

"Merely because someone has access to social media does not mean they can upload videos about any individual -- whether an ordinary citizen or a celebrity -- simply to defame them," the court remarked, asking why such material was being posted online instead of complaints being addressed through legal channels.

The dispute involves Ketan Kakkad, who owns property adjoining Khan's farmhouse in Panvel, located in Maharashtra's Navi Mumbai region.

Kakkad had alleged that Khan violated environmental regulations during the construction of his farmhouse and obstructed access to his own property. He claimed to have repeatedly approached authorities over the issue but received no response.

Subsequently, Khan filed a defamation suit against Kakkad, alleging that his neighbour had uploaded videos and other material on social media containing defamatory allegations about him and activities at the farmhouse.

The actor sought directions requiring Kakkad to remove the allegedly defamatory content and restraining him from making similar statements in the future. After a civil court declined to grant such relief, Khan approached the High Court.

In his petition, Khan contended that the social media posts not only damaged his reputation but also contained communally sensitive remarks directed at him.

During Thursday's hearing, Justice Deshmukh questioned whether judicial resources should be repeatedly spent deciding if particular social media posts were defamatory and whether they should remain online.

The court suggested that Kakkad consider deleting the disputed content voluntarily.

READ MORE: Lal Mohammad Badshah's unwavering devotion towards the clean Ganga

The matter has now been listed for further hearing on July 6