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Court also prohibited several news platforms from publishing the contentious images, which depicted the legislator in what was described as "close proximity" with a former political associate with whom she is currently at odds
The Delhi High Court recently issued an interim order directing multiple media outlets, including Facebook, Google, YouTube, and unidentified entities, to remove news reports and media links containing allegedly defamatory and morphed images of a female Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Bihar.
In an order pronounced on February 20, Justice Prateek Jalan also prohibited several news platforms from publishing the contentious images, which depicted the legislator in what was described as "close proximity" with a former political associate with whom she is currently at odds. The MLA asserted that the images had been manipulated.
Justice Jalan clarified that, while the order did not restrict news platforms from reporting on the viral controversy surrounding the images or the ensuing legal proceedings, such reports should refrain from casting doubt on the authenticity of the images. Additionally, equal weight must be given to the MLA's claim that the images were doctored.
"The order will also not come in the way of publication of any images if the concerned publisher has verified the veracity of the images and seeks to take the defence of justification in respect of the images in question," it said.
Court also stipulated that the injunction would not impede the publication of images by publishers who have independently verified their authenticity and seek to justify their dissemination.
The MLA filed the petition, alleging that her former political associate had circulated morphed and defamatory images on social media and through various media outlets.
However, counsel for the political associate denied any involvement in disseminating the images on social media.
After assessing the merits of the case, court found sufficient grounds to grant interim relief, emphasizing the potential irreparable harm to the MLA if the injunction was not issued promptly.
Consequently, court passed an injunction order to protect the MLA's reputation pending further legal proceedings.
"The plaintiff has also impleaded unknown defendants, represented by Ashok Kumar [defendant No. 17], who have placed the same images/videos in the public domain or who may do so in future. The aforesaid unknown defendants are also directed take down the images in terms of the aforesaid directions and to desist from uploading the same images or images of the same nature of the plaintiff in future," the court ordered.
Case Title: R.V v. Navbharat Times & Ors.
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