Is Gavaskar Seeking Protection of His Personality Rights from the Delhi HC?
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Synopsis
The Delhi High Court has ordered social media platforms to handle a lawsuit by cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar regarding his personality rights. This directive highlights the ongoing battle against unauthorized use of personal identity in the digital age, an essential issue for many public figures today.
Key Takeaways
- Sunil Gavaskar is pursuing legal action to protect his rights.
- The Delhi High Court is emphasizing the importance of addressing complaints through intermediaries.
- Recent trends show many celebrities are actively defending their personality rights.
- The ruling reflects a growing awareness of digital rights.
- Public figures need to be vigilant about unauthorized use of their identities.
New Delhi, Dec 12 (NationPress) On Friday, the Delhi High Court directed social media intermediaries to treat a lawsuit initiated by former Indian cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar as an official complaint. This suit aims to safeguard his personality and publicity rights and mandates a decision within a week, under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules of 2021.
A bench led by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora issued this direction after Gavaskar claimed that his name, images, and likeness were being improperly used across various social media and e-commerce sites.
Upon receiving a list of infringing materials from Gavaskar's legal representative, Justice Arora restated her earlier stance that individuals seeking immediate removal of objectionable online content should first utilize the mechanisms outlined in the 2021 IT Rules before turning to the courts.
"You are aware of my order, correct? You must first approach the intermediaries. Allow them time to respond to your complaint. I am unsure why parties are not leveraging that mechanism. We can revisit this matter in 10 days. They can assess your complaint by then, and you can return. This will significantly address your concerns," the judge remarked orally.
The Delhi High Court's ruling indicated that Gavaskar is seeking remedies from various defendants, including social media platforms and unidentified 'John Doe' entities responsible for the dissemination of the infringing material.
"Defendants 7, 11, and 10 are instructed to consider the plaint as a complaint in accordance with the 2021 IT Rules and provide a resolution within one week. The plaintiff is required to submit the URLs for which takedown is requested within 48 hours from today," the court ordered.
This directive follows a similar ruling from the Delhi High Court in a case brought by Bollywood star Salman Khan, who sought protection against fake news, AI-generated material, and commercial exploitation of his name, image, and voice. In that instance, Justice Arora also urged intermediaries to respond within three days and noted that a stay order for non-social media violators would be forthcoming.
The Gavaskar case joins a growing trend of high-profile individuals invoking their personality and publicity rights in front of the Delhi High Court. Recently, personalities such as actor Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (Jr NTR), spiritual leader and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, actors Nagarjuna, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, filmmaker Karan Johar, and podcaster Raj Shamani have all secured court protections against unauthorized use of their identity, likeness, or AI-generated replicas.
IANS PDS/
Point of View
We recognize the importance of personality rights in today's digital age. The Delhi High Court's ruling emphasizes the need for individuals, especially public figures, to safeguard their identities against unauthorized exploitation. It is crucial for society to uphold these rights to maintain respect and dignity in an increasingly interconnected world.
NationPress
12/12/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What are personality and publicity rights?
Personality and publicity rights refer to an individual's right to control the commercial use of their name, image, and likeness.
Why did Gavaskar approach the Delhi High Court?
Gavaskar approached the court to seek protection against the unauthorized use of his name and likeness on social media and e-commerce platforms.
What did the Delhi High Court direct?
The court directed social media intermediaries to treat Gavaskar's lawsuit as a formal complaint and decide on it within a week.
What are the 2021 IT Rules?
The 2021 IT Rules are regulations that govern how intermediaries handle user-generated content and address complaints regarding defamatory or infringing materials.
Are there other celebrities seeking similar protections?
Yes, several high-profile personalities, including actors and spiritual leaders, have sought similar protections against unauthorized use of their identities.
