The Karnataka High Court on Monday refused to stay criminal proceedings initiated against a Bengaluru-based dermatologist accused of disseminating allegedly misleading and defamatory content about Nandini dairy products through social media posts and Instagram reels.
The single-judge Bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna declined to grant interim protection to dermatologist Dr Sharanya Padma, a medical practitioner working at a private hospital in Bengaluru and also running a clinic in Malur area of Kolar district. The Court, however, issued notice and sought responses from the state government and the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which had lodged the complaint.
The proceedings arise from allegations that Dr Padma uploaded videos and reels on Instagram and other social media platforms claiming that certain Nandini-branded dairy beverages were unsafe for consumption. According to the complaint filed by KMF, the dermatologist allegedly stated that products such as strawberry-flavoured milk and similar beverages contained harmful chemicals, were toxic in nature and could potentially cause adverse health effects.
Acting on the complaint, the Malleshwaram Police registered a criminal case against Dr Padma. The dermatologist then moved the High Court seeking quashing of the FIR and related proceedings. She contended that her comments were confined to specific flavoured dairy beverages and were not directed against Nandini milk as a whole.
The Court expressed serious concern over the dissemination of unverified claims relating to food products on social media platforms without any scientific testing, expert certification or regulatory verification. It questioned the basis on which such statements had been made and observed that social media could not be used to create public alarm regarding consumer products without credible scientific evidence.
The single-judge Bench noted that allegations concerning the quality or safety of food products ought to be supported by appropriate testing and communicated through proper statutory or regulatory channels rather than being circulated on social media platforms.
Justice Nagaprasanna further observed that the petitioner had made assertions regarding the alleged quality and safety of the products without placing any material on record to show that the products had undergone laboratory examination or scientific analysis. The Court indicated that making statements describing products as unsafe or spurious without verification had the potential to generate unnecessary panic among consumers and adversely affect public confidence.
Expressing concern over the growing trend of unsubstantiated claims being circulated online, the Court observed that casual statements made on social media platforms could create larger societal consequences and disrupt public confidence in consumer products. It emphasised that platforms such as Instagram could not be used to spread unverified information capable of causing public concern in the absence of any scientific basis.
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