The Delhi High Court has issued a directive for several media houses to remove videos and social media posts deemed defamatory against Rajya Sabha MP Venumbaka Vijaya Sai Reddy. This interim order comes with a stipulation that if the content is not taken down within 10 days, the MP may request intermediaries like Google, Meta Platforms, and X to intervene and remove the URLs within 36 hours.
Justice Vikas Mahajan highlighted the court’s concern over the damaging potential of rumours, especially those affecting personal dignity and reputation. “It is trite law that rumours, unlike truth, must not be acted upon as information for dissemination before the public, particularly when such rumours can potentially affect the dignity of a woman as well as the reputation of a person,” Justice Mahajan noted.
The court issued summons to the defendant media houses and intermediaries, requiring them to file their written statements within 30 days. The next hearing is scheduled for November 25.
In his lawsuit, MP Reddy, represented by advocates Amit Agrawal, Sahil Raveen, Rahul Kukreja, Sana Jain, and Arjun Chhibbar, seeks damages and a permanent injunction against the media houses. The suit alleges that false, derogatory, and defamatory statements were made across multiple social media platforms. Reddy, a prominent public figure and politician of the YSR Congress, argues that these statements have caused him and his family significant mental distress and have damaged his reputation.
The defense argued the balance necessary between privacy rights and freedom of the press, particularly pointing out that no defamation could be claimed against broadcasts of live events. However, the court maintained that freedom of speech is not absolute, especially when statements are prima facie untrue and harmful to an individual’s reputation.
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“I am satisfied that the plaintiff has made out a case for the grant of ad interim relief,” Justice Mahajan declared, emphasizing that failure to grant such relief could result in grave and irreparable damage to the plaintiff.
