The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sharply criticised the social media posts and refused to hear analyst and commentator Abhijit Iyer Mitra in a defamation case filed by journalists till he takes down the posts in question within five hours, and remarked that the language he used “are not permissible in any civilised society”.
The suit against Mitra was filed by nine journalists of Newslaundry, as well as the organisation, seeking damages of Rs 2 crore. The plaintiffs accused Mitra of defaming them through a series of tweets, besides referring to women journalists as “prostitutes” and their workplace as a “brothel”. The journalists are also seeking an injunction.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav had a heated exchange with Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai appearing for Iyer Mitra after the lawyer sought ti defend the posts. After perusing the alleged defamatory statements, inquired from Mitra’s counsel, Justice Kaurav said “Can you defend these..?…This kind of language…whatever may be the background…but this kind of language against women, is it permissible in society?”
At one point, the court even warned that it would order the Police to register a criminal case against Iyer Mitra. The court warned that it will pass a judicial order restraining Mitra and may also direct for suo motu registration of a First Information Report (FIR). “This is not permissible in law. I’ll direct for registration of FIR against your client (Mitra).”
Dehadrai answered in the negative, while adding that Newslaundry “is not a news organisation as they claim” and alleged that they have questionable sources of funding.
Justice Kaurav, however, remarked, “Going by any stretch of imagination, such a language on a public platform… Does the defendant understand the definition of brothel? If someone takes funds from questionable sources, can it be called a brothel? The choice of words… We will hear you, but first you take (it) down.”
Following the court’s warnings, Dehadrai informed the court that Mitra shall take down the tweets. The court directed that it must be removed in five hours.Minutes after the hearing concluded, Mitra took to X and posted, “I have full faith in the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. They have asked me to take down my poetic tweets about NewsLaundry. I am complying with said order in deference to the Court.”
“The Hon’ble court has not gotten into the defamation aspect yet, where I will expose these NL charlatans for what they are. It is curious of course that the lawyers for NL only focused on my poetic tweets & entirely avoided the tweets where I have repeatedly questioned NL’s dubious funding and journalistic integrity,” he added.The court has posted the matter for May 26.The Court was hearing the Rs 2 cr defamation suit filed by Newslaundry Executive Editor Manisha Pande and 8 other women journalists against Iyer Mitra for referring to them as 'prostitutes.'
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