Wikimedia Foundation has withdrawn its appeal before a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court against a single-judge's order directing it to takedown defamatory alleged defamatory edits on Asian News International (ANI)'s page on Wikipedia. .The development came about after the Supreme Court recently set aside the order passed by the High Court and stated that the single-judge can decide the matter afresh.In the High Court, Wikipedia's appeal was today listed before Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Rajneesh Kumar Gupta. Following the Supreme Court verdict, Wikimedia had moved an application to withdraw the pending appeal. Considering the top court decision, the Court allowed the withdrawal..The top court had earlier intervened on the plea moved by Wikipedia against an order passed by a High Court single-judge on April 2 for takedown of the alleged defamatory statements. Wikipedia had also challenged Justice Singh-led Division Bench's April 8 decision upholding the single-judge order.The apex court had found the High Court orders were too broadly worded and lacking specifics about the alleged defamatory statements. "Such a broad interim relief is not capable of being specifically implemented. The reason is that there is no clarity on the issue on who will decide whether the contents are false, misleading and defamatory," it had said.It had granted liberty to ANI to move the single-judge afresh..The matter will now be ahead afresh by a single-judge.ANI's suit before the Court alleged that Wikimedia Foundation allowed Wikipedia anonymous users to refer to the news agency as a "propaganda tool" for the present Central government. Since then, the page underwent a number of edits.The High Court had issued summons to Wikipedia on July 9, 2024 and ordered it to disclose information about three people who made the edits on ANI's Wikipedia page. The order was resisted by Wikipedia, which itself chose to serve notices on these users instead of disclosing their identity in public.
Wikimedia Foundation has withdrawn its appeal before a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court against a single-judge's order directing it to takedown defamatory alleged defamatory edits on Asian News International (ANI)'s page on Wikipedia. .The development came about after the Supreme Court recently set aside the order passed by the High Court and stated that the single-judge can decide the matter afresh.In the High Court, Wikipedia's appeal was today listed before Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Rajneesh Kumar Gupta. Following the Supreme Court verdict, Wikimedia had moved an application to withdraw the pending appeal. Considering the top court decision, the Court allowed the withdrawal..The top court had earlier intervened on the plea moved by Wikipedia against an order passed by a High Court single-judge on April 2 for takedown of the alleged defamatory statements. Wikipedia had also challenged Justice Singh-led Division Bench's April 8 decision upholding the single-judge order.The apex court had found the High Court orders were too broadly worded and lacking specifics about the alleged defamatory statements. "Such a broad interim relief is not capable of being specifically implemented. The reason is that there is no clarity on the issue on who will decide whether the contents are false, misleading and defamatory," it had said.It had granted liberty to ANI to move the single-judge afresh..The matter will now be ahead afresh by a single-judge.ANI's suit before the Court alleged that Wikimedia Foundation allowed Wikipedia anonymous users to refer to the news agency as a "propaganda tool" for the present Central government. Since then, the page underwent a number of edits.The High Court had issued summons to Wikipedia on July 9, 2024 and ordered it to disclose information about three people who made the edits on ANI's Wikipedia page. The order was resisted by Wikipedia, which itself chose to serve notices on these users instead of disclosing their identity in public.
