Madras HC Says Personality Rights Can’t Be Used to Gag Social Media Posts Without Commercial Exploitation

The Madras High Court dismissed interim applications filed by celebrity chef T Rangaraj seeking to restrain costume designer Joy Crizildaa and others from publishing social media posts and interviews about their relationship.

The Court held that personality rights do not justify a blanket gag order unless there is prima facie material showing commercial exploitation of a person’s identity.

It observed that merely circulating photos or links is insufficient to establish a violation of personality rights and that free speech under Article 19(1)(a) must be protected.

The Court said disputed facts and the genuineness of content must be examined at trial, not at the interim stage.

[T Rangaraj v. Joy Crizildaa]