Pressure groups trying to use social media to affect outcome of cases: Ex-CJI Chandrachud

Former Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud on Sunday said social media is being used by special interest groups to influence the outcome of cases and judges need to be wary of them.

He also noted that people nowadays want to form an opinion on the basis of 20 seconds they see on YouTube or any other social media platform, saying it poses a great danger.

"Today there are special interest groups, pressure groups who are trying to use social media to affect the minds of the courts and the outcomes of cases. Every citizen is entitled to understand what is the basis of a decision and to express their opinions on the decisions of the court. But when this goes beyond the decisions of the court and targets individual judges, then it sort of raises fundamental questions about - Is this truly freedom of speech and expression?" he said.