India, Oct. 24 -- The Karnataka High Court directed police to avoid mechanically registering cases over social media posts and ensure that an FIR does not automatically lead to an arrest, saying that the "effect of words must be judged by the standards of reasonable, strong-minded and courageous people, and not those who perceive every criticism as a threat."

In an order dated October 16, Justice M Nagaprasanna issued guidelines to prevent multiple cases over the same incident and the arbitrary exercise of police powers.

The court made the observations while quashing a criminal case against one Sandeep Kumar, who was booked for allegedly promoting enmity after reposting on X a news report about six young men allegedly threatening a woma...