Not courts' duty to pass takedown orders against media; sub-judice matters can be debated: Supreme Court

India Supreme Court reverses takedown order against Wikimedia on free speech grounds

The Indian Supreme Court on Friday overturned a lower court’s order directing the Wikimedia Foundation to remove a page detailing a defamation lawsuit filed by Indian news agency Asian News International (ANI), upholding the fundamental right to free speech under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution and public scrutiny. A Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujja Bhuyna ruled against the Delhi High Court’s takedown dir…

'Propaganda tool' row: SC reverses Wikipedia takedown in ANI defamation case

In a landmark ruling on Friday, May 9, the Supreme Court of India reversed a Delhi High Court order that had asked the Wikimedia Foundation to remove a Wikipedia page containing information about a defamation case brought by news agency Asian News International (ANI). The top court held that the material in question was not prima facie contemptuous and asserted the need for open judicial proceedings and freedom of expression. A two-judge bench o…

It is not a court’s duty to tell media to delete or take down content: SC

The verdict by a Bench of Justices A.S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan came in a challenge to a Delhi High Court order directing the takedown or deletion of online content related to a defamation case between ANI and Wikimedia Foundation

Supreme Court sets aside Delhi HC takedown order in ANI-Wikipedia case

‘It is not the duty of the court to tell the media to delete this and take that down,’ said the bench.

Not courts' duty to pass takedown orders against media; sub-judice matters can be debated: Supreme Court

For a liberal democracy to thrive, the media and the judiciary must supplement each other, the Court said in the ANI-Wikipedia case.

Courts Must Remain Open To Constructive Criticism: SC says even subjudice issues can be debated by people and Press

In a major push for freedom of speech and expression, the Supreme Court, on Thursday, stressed the importance of public discourse and media scrutiny. The apex court held that courts – as open and public institutions – must remain open to observations, debates, and constructive criticism. The apex court further observed that important issues should be vigorously debated by the public and the press even when the matter is sub judice. The bench com…