Censorship – News Media/Documentaries

In a batch of appeals filed against an ad interim ex parte injunction order passed against The News Minute (‘TNM’) and others, restraining them from publishing content about Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd. (‘MEIL’), the Division Bench of T. Vinod Kumar* and P. Shree Sudha, JJ., allowed the appeals, holding that the impugned order amounted to a gag order which was passed without adhering to the established legal principles.

A defamation suit for damages was filed by MEIL against the appellants herein, including Spunklane Media Pvt. Ltd./ TNM , for their publications made in 2022. MEIL also filed a mandatory injunction application to restrain the appellants or their representatives, employees, agents, or anyone acting on their behalf from publishing, circulating, spreading, or otherwise communicating such content to the public which contained libellous, slanderous and defamatory content against Megha Engineering and its management.

The said defamatory publications alleged MEIL’s involvement in financial misconduct and political dealings. In one of the news reports, the appellants stated that MEIL funded the marriage of a senior IAS officer’s daughter. Furthermore, in another publication, the e-magazine of DISHA published that MEIL expanded its business nationally by providing election funds amounting to Rupees 27 crores to Bharatiya Janta Party, alleging a ‘quid pro quo’ arrangement.

The Trial Court, vide the impugned order, granted ad-interim ex parte injunction in favour of MEIL.