The Karnataka High Court has ruled that orders passed by the Bengaluru trial court in the ongoing legal dispute between former Microsoft India executive Lathika Pai and the technology giant can be published by third parties, clarifying that there is no blanket restriction on dissemination of court documents.
Justice M Nagaprasanna, in a significant order dated July 14, addressed concerns stemming from the language of an earlier trial court order that appeared to bar publication. The High Court held that the restriction applied solely to the plaintiff, Lathika Pai, and not to the general public or third parties.
“The phrase ‘nor publish the order of the Court’ must be interpreted in the context of the plaintiff,” the court stated. “It indicates that the plaintiff is restrained from publishing the order, not that the order is barred from being published altogether.”
The legal tussle stems from Pai’s allegations that she was forced to resign from Microsoft after enduring a prolonged four-year internal investigation into a project she led. She contends that the inconclusive nature of the probe severely harmed her professional standing.
Microsoft has firmly denied the allegations.
Initially, Pai filed her civil suit in the Delhi High Court, but withdrew it after Microsoft challenged the jurisdiction. She subsequently refiled the case in Bengaluru.
In a key development on June 9, Microsoft assured the trial court that it would preserve all documents relevant to the matter. In turn, the trial court directed Pai not to publish Microsoft’s undertaking or the court’s order until further notice—a directive that prompted Pai to approach the High Court via a writ petition.
Senior advocate Prabhuling K Navadgi and advocate IS Devaiah appeared on behalf of Pai, while Microsoft was represented by senior advocate Dhyan Chinnappa and advocate Mohammed Shameer.
