MADURAI
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday impleaded the Centre and State Commissions for Women and Children and Google, Facebook and Whatsapp in a public interest litigation petition that sought a direction to regulate social media in the wake of increase in crimes against women and children.
A Division Bench of Justices N. Kirubakaran and S.S. Sundar ordered notice to the respondents concerned and adjourned the hearing. The public interest litigation petition was filed by jallikattu activist Karthikeya Sivasenapathy and advocate Karuppasamy Pandian.
The petitioner complained that social media was being used as a platform to perpetrate violence against women and children. The violators used social media to entrap women and children in the guise of friendship. Even during investigation into the crimes, the victims were not provided any comfort, the petitioners said.
The victims were put to mental stress, sometimes leading to their suicide. In order to protect the interests of the victims, the petitioner sought constitution of a commission comprising retired women judges, advocates and psychologists.
The commission could receive complaints and information and investigate them. The commission could also sensitise the police to handle such cases. Further, gender-sensitive courts, regulation of social media and counselling for victims could be achieved through the commission.