Delhi High Court directs Karma News to take down article about Newslaundry, News Minute

The Delhi High Court recently directed Malayalam news portal Karma News to take down its article against Kerala Media Academy, Newslaundry, Confluence Media and The News Minute (plaintiffs) [Newslaundry Media Pvt Ltd & Anr. Vs. Galaxy Zoom India Pvt Ltd & Anr]. .The article was about 'Cutting South', an event organised in Kochi in 2023 by the four plaintiffs to celebrate journalism, with focus on South India.The article by Karma news accused the organisers of intending “to separate the country and divide India into North and South creating a United States of India or South India."Newslaundry and Confluence Media had filed a ₹ 2 crore defamation suit against Karma News in which the High Court had earlier granted interim injunction in Newslaundry’s favour..However, it was brought to the notice of Justice Anish Dayal that Karma News had again written an article defaming Newslaundry.“Yet another article was carried out by Karma news, making allegations against the plaintiff’s program, "Cutting South 2023" and its organisors, accusing them of corruption and for “distorting the map of India," the Court noted. On this observation, the Court on February 13 directed Karma News to take down the article. ”Court has perused the said article. Considering that this article was published after the order was passed on 6th July 2023, the defendants are directed to take down the said article from their website,” the single-judge ordered. .Advocate Bani Dikshit, appearing for Newslaundry, submitted that on July 6, 2023, a statement was recorded in court on behalf of Karma News by advocate Richa Kapoor that it would not publish any material about them with regard to the dispute in the present suit. .The article in question stated that the Josie Joseph, the Chairman of Confluence Media and one of the organisers of Cutting South, had travelled to the United States and the trip was being monitored by central agencies.“A program called Cutting South was conducted in Kochi by dividing the map if India into two parts and printing black and white leaflets,” the article stated. The Court asked Karma News whether it had sought any reaction from the plaintiffs before publishing the news about them.“Did you approach them, take statements from them? What is this," the Court demanded.It then passed the take down order and listed the matter for further consideration on May 19.The Court also directed Karma News to file an affidavit of compliance with regard to all the articles disseminated after the order of July 6, 2023.“They shall file affidavit of compliance in this regard. In the same affidavit, the defendant will also state if there are any other articles which have been disseminated after the order of 6th July 2023,” the order said..Advocates Bani Dikshit, Uddhav Khanna and Aditya Dhawan appeared for Newslaundry.Advocates Kunal Anand, Pushkir, Shisham Pradhan and Harsh Gautam appeared for Karma News.[Read Order]