Delhi High Court Issues Notice On BJP Leader Sudhanshu Mittal's Plea Seeking Contempt Action Against Times Group Owners, Editors

The Delhi High Court has issued notice on a plea filed by BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal seeking contempt action against the management and editors of Times of India for allegedly publishing "defamatory content" against him in violation of a 2011 trial court order

In January 2011, the trial court had directed the news organisation editors to first verify the contents of any news regarding Mittal "from the originated source" and publish the same only after they are sure regarding its veracity. The order was passed after Mittal had sued the media group for publishing incorrect news reports about him.

Justice Sachin Datta on November 1 sought response from the editors and directors of Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. including Vineet Jain and Samir Jain (Managing Directors); Meera Jain and Revati Jain (Directors), Vikas Singh (Editor), Rajesh Kalra (Chief Editor, Times Internet) and Jaideep Bose (Editorial Director, Times of India).

"Let a reply be filed within a period of four weeks from today. Rejoinder thereto, if any, be filed before the next date of hearing," the court said in the order.

According to the plea through Advocate Gagan Gandhi, the Economic Times last year published "defamatory content" against Mittal and last month, "defamatory content" was published again in both online and print editions of the Times of India.

Mittal's case before the high court is that the suit before the trial court was decreed on the basis of the apology tendered by the respondents and thus, the media group cannot be allowed to "undermine the authority of the court" by "bluntly violating and disregarding the trial court order."

Stating further that journalists and media houses must undertake a higher degree of care and responsibility while reporting on public figures, the plea avers that journalists cannot be allowed to prejudice the trial by tainting the public perception against a public figure, without any basis.

"…publication which scandalises or attempts to scandalise or lower the authority of the courts amounts to contempt. The right to one's reputation is a personal right protected under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, 1950. However, the right to freedom of expression under Art. 19 is subject to the right to the reputation of others," the plea states.

Accordingly, the plea seeks contempt action against the respondents for "wilful disobedience" of the trial court order. It also seeks an order for attaching the properties of alleged contemnors.

The matter will now be heard on January 24, 2023.

Title: SUDHANSHU MITTAL v. VINEET JAIN & ORS.

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