Bengaluru, July 22: The Karnataka High Court has dismissed an FIR filed against a 20-year-old college student who complimented his female classmate via a private Instagram message. The court ruled that using “Gen Z language” in private conversations does not constitute stalking, voyeurism, or an infringement on a woman’s dignity.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna, presiding over the single-judge bench, emphasized that criminal law cannot be applied simply because a student praised a classmate in a private chat. He warned that such cases could have detrimental effects on the future of young individuals.
The case stemmed from a conversation between the petitioner and his 21-year-old classmate, both of whom were friends studying at the same college. The petitioner had sent a direct message calling her “pretty” and “beautiful,” which the court described as “Gen Z lingo.”
According to court records, the private message was later shown to the complainant’s father, a senior IPS officer, leading to the FIR against the student. The police charged him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 66A of the Information Technology Act.
During the hearing, Justice Nagaprasanna noted that the conversation was not public and reflected the contemporary communication style of students today.
The court stated, “This chat is not public. It is a conversation between two individuals. The language used is typical of today’s students. It cannot be deemed a crime.”
The High Court further clarified that compliments made in private conversations do not amount to stalking, voyeurism, or any offense against a woman’s dignity.
Allowing criminal proceedings to continue would constitute an abuse of legal process and could unjustly jeopardize the petitioner’s future, the court added.
Consequently, the court dismissed the FIR and instructed the investigating officer to return all seized items, including electronic devices, to the petitioner immediately.
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