The Delhi High Court will begin hearings on September 30 to clarify the scope of personality rights through three suits filed by actors Vivek Oberoi, Janhvi Kapoor, and Aaradhya Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan’s granddaughter, according to medianama.com. Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani emphasized the court’s intent to carefully delineate what constitutes personality rights.
Justice Bhambhani described the court’s approach as chipping away at a monolithic block to reveal a definitive understanding of personality rights. The court questioned the rationale behind requests to ban fan accounts, noting that prohibiting all fans would eliminate the problem but is impractical. It has previously rejected blanket takedown orders for fan pages, citing concerns over free speech, as seen in August rulings related to Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor’s suits.
The court’s clarification is significant amid rising legal actions by celebrities to protect their image and identity online. The decision will set a precedent on how personality rights are balanced against free speech and fan expression in India. This case follows a trend where courts increasingly address digital rights and celebrity protections, impacting social media governance and content moderation policies.
The hearings starting September 30 will provide a detailed legal framework on personality rights, potentially influencing future cases involving celebrity image rights and online content regulation in India, medianama.com reported.