Delhi High Court Imposes ₹20K Costs On NGO For Seeking Repeated Adjournments In Defamation Suit Against BBC Over PM Modi Documentary

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday imposed costs of Rs. 20,000 on a Gujarat-based NGO for seeking repeated adjournments in its defamation suit against British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) over its documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Justice Mini Pushkarna fined NGO 'Justice On Trial', noting that despite final opportunity granted in December last year, the NGO sought an accommodation even today citing engagement of an arguing counsel.

For context, the NGO had filed Rs. 10,000 crore defamation suit against BBC in 2023, saying that the documentary casts "a slur” on India's reputation, including that of the judiciary and the Prime Minister.

In May, the Court had issued notice to BBC on the indigent person application filed by the NGO.

In July 2024, an issue of maintainability was raised regarding the NGO filing the suit.

Today, the counsel appearing for the NGO said that the “client is engaging a counsel to address on the maintainability issue.”

Noting that last opportunity was granted to NGO on the previous date of hearing, Justice Pushkarna said,

“Vide order dated July 24, 2024, this court had passed an order with respect to maintainability of the present petition. Various dates have been taken by the plaintiff from time and again. Today the counsel appearing for the plaintiff seeks accommodation and submits that the plaintiff is in the process of engaging an arguing counsel. Considering various adjournments already sought by the plaintiff, subject to the payment of cost of Rs. 20,000. Renotify on August 19.”

Justice on Trial has filed the case as an indigent person. Notice was also issued on its application seeking to sue as an indigent person.

The documentary, India: the Modi Question, was released in January 2023.

Title: Justice on Trial v. BBC