Madras HC Bars Activist Rangarajan Narasimhan from Defaming Scholar Dushyanth Sridhar

Swift Summary:

• The Madras High Court issued an interim injunction against temple activist Rangarajan Narasimhan from making defamatory statements about Vedic scholar and orator Dushyanth Sridhar on social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube.
• Dushyanth Sridhar had filed a defamation suit in February 2025 seeking ₹1 crore in damages for the activist’s previous remarks.
• Justice K. Kumaresh Babu accepted Sridhar’s submission to file the suit in Chennai despite him residing in Bengaluru and the defendant residing in Srirangam, considering evidence that part of the cause of action arose in Chennai due to his following ther.
• The court determined that prima facie evidence pointed to defamatory statements by Narasimhan, warranting an interim injunction until the disposal of the case.
• Additional orders by Justice Babu restrained narasimhan from making disparaging comments about senior counsels who represent opponents or appear for Sridhar’s case.

Indian Opinion Analysis:
The Madras High Court’s intervention underscores an crucial precedent around online accountability and curbing misuse of social media platforms for personal attacks or harassment, particularly targeting prominent individuals like public speakers and scholars. By granting Dushyanth Sridhar relief through interim judicial measures, this case also highlights legal mechanisms available for addressing cyber defamation issues swiftly before they escalate further during litigation processes.

Restraining activists from attacking legal representatives is essential to ensure fair representation without intimidation tactics-important not just within this specific court matter but broadly for improving professional dignity within India’s judicial proceedings ecosystem. this ruling may encourage responsible conduct on social media while reaffirming users’ obligations regarding freedom of speech limits under Indian defamation laws.

Read more at: The Hindu