‘Question of media freedom’: SC on Delhi HC order to remove Wikipedia page on ANI defamation suit

Stating it was a matter of freedom of media, the Supreme Court on Monday questioned the rationale behind the Delhi High Court’s order directing Wikipedia to take down a webpage about the ongoing proceedings of a defamation suit filed by news agency Asian News International against the platform, reported Bar and Bench.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan also issued a notice to ANI on a petition by Wikimedia Foundation, the United States-based non-profit that owns Wikipedia, challenging the High Court’s order.

Wikipedia is a free online collaborative encyclopaedia edited by volunteers.

On October 16, a High Court bench of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela directed the Wikimedia Foundation to take down the page within 36 hours. Following this, the non-profit had “suspended access” to the page.

“Ultimately this is media,” the Bar and Bench quoted the Supreme Court as saying. “The question is about freedom of media. Today it is he [Wikipedia], tomorrow it may be you [ANI].”

The top court added that it was concerned about the “legality and validity” of the directions issued by the High Court, reported Live Law.

Representing Wikipedia, Advocate Kapil Sibal told the court that the High Court had passed an order without making a finding on defamation. “It is just not possible,” said Sibal, adding that the content on...

Read more