Guwahati, July 2 -- Political leaders cannot treat every satirical post or criticism on social media as defamation, the Delhi High Court observed while refusing to order the wholesale removal of online content flagged by Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha.

Delivering its judgment on Wednesday, Justice Subramonium Prasad said satire and humour arising from political decisions, party alignments, governance and public policies are part of democratic discourse.

The court observed that criticism expressed in such forms does not become defamatory merely because it is directed at a public figure.

The court also noted that those holding public office are expected to tolerate criticism and satire, describing it as an inevitable consequence of politic...