Sourav Das Case: Madras HC Issues Notice to Centre & UIDAI Over Background Probe
The Madras High Court on Friday, October 30, 2026, issued formal notices to key central ministries, statutory regulatory bodies, and major digital intermediaries on a petition demanding an exhaustive background and identity probe into journalist and Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) spokesperson Sourav Das. Heard before a division bench comprising Chief Justice S.A. Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan, the legal plea raises grave objections against alleged contemptuous and disparaging statements targeting the Indian judiciary and judges of the Supreme Court of India. Alongside pressing for a multi-agency inquiry into the respondent’s credentials and past records, the litigation calls upon administrative authorities to enforce immediate digital restrictions on his social media footprint and examine punitive regulatory actions regarding his foundational identification and travel documents.
High Court Mandates 6-Week Response Window: Notices Issued to UIDAI, Home Ministry, and MeitY
Taking preliminary cognizance of the submissions, the division bench directed respondents to submit their comprehensive counter-affidavits within a mandatory six-week deadline before adjourning the matter. The array of authorities served with judicial notice encompasses the Regional Passport Officer (Chennai), the Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the Foreign Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, the Secretary of the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), as well as the statutory Grievance Officers representing X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Filed by Ganesh Kumar, a resident of Kanchipuram district, the petition urges the Union government to launch an impartial, detailed investigation into Das’s lineage and public record, while formally praying for administrative directives to review and cancel his passport and Aadhaar card if statutory violations are established.
Allegations of Judicial Defamation: Demands Mount for Social Media Bans Across X and Instagram
Advancing arguments before the court on Friday, petitioner’s counsel B. Jagannath contended that the respondent had consistently engaged in defamatory and disrespectful discourse aimed at eroding public faith in the higher judiciary. The counsel argued that approaching the High Court became unavoidable after statutory complaints previously submitted to administrative and law enforcement agencies failed to elicit meaningful action against the online remarks. The petition specifically seeks binding directions to MeitY to exercise its oversight powers under prevailing digital regulations to block Das's handles on X and Instagram, effectively restraining further publication of objectionable commentary concerning sitting judges. With the Madras High Court officially placing the matter on notice, the six-week timeline now sets the stage for formal responses from central regulatory departments and global tech intermediaries on issues balancing digital speech, legal accountability, and statutory identity safeguards.
