Gujarat High Court Quashes FIRs Against Three Booked For Creating Public Alarm By Forming Telegram Group Advocating Pay Rise For Constables

The Gujarat High Court ruled that a police constable’s Telegram group message discussing a pay raise did not amount to causing public alarm under Section 505 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The constable had been charged for allegedly spreading misinformation that could incite unrest. However, the court held that discussing legitimate concerns about pay hikes in a private messaging group did not meet the criteria for causing public alarm or unrest. This judgment highlights the court’s interpretation of freedom of speech in the context of private communication and clarifies the scope of Section 505, which penalizes public alarm, not private discourse.