Citizens shouldn’t ‘blatantly' rely on social media: CJI Dipak Misra on mob lynching

NEW DELHI: Commenting on latest incidents of mob lynching in the country, Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra today urged the citizens of the country to not blindly rely on social media messages to ensure "peace and order" in the society.


"The blatant reliance on social media needs to be checked by the citizens themselves; to ensure peace and order in the society," Misra was quoted as saying by ANI.

The CJI further added that viral texts on the social media are responsible for the recent surge in mob lynching cases in the country.

"There is a recent surge in mob lynching, please don't misunderstand me because I have authored the judgment, there is a recent surge in mob lynching based on the viral text on the social media and this leads to mobocracy and loss of life, in certain cases," he added.

Last week, the Supreme Court had condemned lynching incidents and recommended to Parliament to enact a separate law to punish offenders participating in lynching.

The apex court had said that horrendous acts of mobocracy cannot be tolerated and cannot be allowed to become a new norm.

"It has to be curbed with an iron hand… no citizen can take law into his hands or become a law on to himself," said the top court.

A bench of Chief Justice (CJI) Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud said state and central governments have to take preventive, punitive and remedial measures to stop lynching incidents in future. CJI Misra said the Centre and states have to file compliance report on a series of directions given by the SC to prevent and punish lynching.