Hyderabad, Sept. 11 -- The Telangana High Court has made it clear that police cannot register cases on social media posts without conducting a preliminary inquiry.

The court ruled that harsh criticism or political commentary alone does not justify criminal action unless the posts amount to defamation, hate speech, incitement to violence, or pose a threat to law and order.

Justice N Tukaramji delivered the verdict while quashing three cases registered against Nallabalu Elias alias Durgam Shashidhar Goud at Ramagundam and Karimnagar police stations.

These cases were filed based on complaints alleging objectionable social media posts against the Congress Party and the state government. The High Court held that such posts fell within the a...