Delhi court quashes order asking journalists to remove content against Adani Enterprises

A Delhi district court set aside a civil judge’s order directing journalists to take down alleged defamatory content against Adani Enterprises. The court held that defendants were not heard before the order and remanded the case for fresh consideration

New Delhi: A Delhi district court on Thursday allowed a plea filed by four journalists challenging an order restraining them from publishing or circulating alleged unverified and defamatory content against Adani Enterprises Limited.

District Judge Ashish Aggarwal was hearing the appeal filed by journalists Ravi Nair, Abir Dasgupta, Ayaskanta Das, and Ayush Joshi against a civil judge’s September 6 order. Acting on AEL’s defamation, the civil judge directed 10 defendants, including the four journalists, to take down contentious material already published on various platforms, including websites, articles, and social media posts, within a stipulated period.

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The district court, however, observed that the civil judge should have provided an opportunity to the defendants before passing the order, pointing out that the provisions of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC) weren’t kept in mind.

“The impugned order is not sustainable. I allow the appeal and set aside the impugned order without any finding on the merits of the case,” Judge Aggarwal said. The matter was remanded to a court to decide it afresh after hearing both sides.

Meanwhile, another court reserved its order on the appeal filed by journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, who sought a similar relief. The defendants in the case are Guha Thakurta, Nair, Dasgupta, Das, Joshi, Bob Brown Foundation, Dreamscape Network International Private Limited, Getup Limited, Domain Directors Private Limited trading as Instra, and John Doe parties.