Newslaundry, Ravish Kumar Agree on Status Quo Till Court Decides on Adani's 'Defamatory Articles' Plea
The Wire Staff
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New Delhi: Digital news platform Newslaundry and journalist Ravish Kumar have arrived at an agreement with Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) to maintain status quo in connection to the dispute between them over allegedly defamatory articles about AEL. Bar and Bench reported that according to the understanding arrived at by the parties, neither Newslaundry nor Kumar will be obligated to pull down any existing articles on the internet.
Meanwhile, any material already pulled down pursuant to a civil court gag order and subsequent government communication of that order, will not be uploaded again, the report said.
The matter was being heard before Delhi high court. Justice Sachin Datta recorded this arrangement, disposing of the writ petitions filed by Newslaundry and Kumar that challenged the Union government's communication regarding the ex-parte gag order.
"The plaintiff will not take down any material as existing as on today. It is agreed that in case it has taken down any material same shall not be uploaded. Understanding shall subsist until the interim injunction is decided," the court said in its order, as quoted by Bar and Bench.
The high court also said the government had communicated to the journalists and organisations the subsequent court directions staying the gag order. "Needless to state that in light of the aforesaid understanding, the Union of India will address a corrigendum to the petitioners," Justice Datta said.
The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had on September 16 sent notices to two media houses and a number of YouTube channels – including Newslaundry and Kumar – ordering them to take down a total of 138 videos and 83 Instagram posts that mentioned the Adani Group.
According to the petition, the government's takedown order was passed to protect the interests of a private party.
Newslaundry and Kumar approached the Delhi high court to challenge the order. Notably, The Wire too was served this notice for a solitary Instagram post that referred to allegations levelled by the US Securities and Exchange Commission against the Adani Group, which are matters of record.
This was after a defamation suit was filed by AEL in Delhi's Rohini court that sought to injunct a number of journalists from publishing stories that allegedly defamed the company.
On September 18, an appellate court partially set aside the order with respect to four journalists but the directions to the John Doe defendants, including Newslaundry, still stand.
Subsequently, Newslaundry and Kumar moved the high court arguing that the Union government order was an unprecedented and unconstitutional exercise of executive power.
The Delhi high court has directed the Union government to “address a corrigendum” in light of the latest development.
Note: The headline of his piece has been edited for clarity since publication.
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