The Calcutta High Court has said that caste-based abuse posted on social media can come within the scope of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, observing that the idea of “public view” is not restricted to physical spaces. The court made the observation while ordering a fresh investigation into a complaint filed by a Behala resident who alleged that he was targeted with casteist remarks in Facebook posts, a TOI report stated.
Justice Uday Kumar, in an order dated September 25, said the concept of public view can extend to the “digital domain” when offences covered under Section 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act are alleged. These provisions deal with intentional insults, intimidation and caste-based abuse against members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes when such conduct takes place in public view.
