For some time it has been a hot discussion whether a WhatsApp admin should be held liable for the contents posted by a member. In several places, police have launched action against WhatsApp admins in such cases. It is however heartening to note that the Delhi High Court has in a recent decision has held that the Admin should not be held liable.
In Ashish Bhalla Vs Suresh Chawdhary & Others [CS(OS) no 188/2016, IA No 4901/2016,IA 8988/2016, IA 9554/2016) the High Court of New Delhi has observed “…to make the administrator of an online platform liable for defamation would be like making the manufacturer of the newsprint on which defamatory statements are published liable for defamation”.
The case has been dismissed also for other reasons. But Netizens and WhatsApp admins should be happy with the remarks recorded in the judgement.
Naavi
