Delhi HC to Hear on Sept 25 Plea by Newslaundry, Ravish Kumar Against Centre Order to Take Down Adani Enterprises Content

The Delhi High Court on Monday said it would hear on September 25 the plea filed by Newslaundry and journalist Ravish Kumar challenging the Centre’s directive to take down content relating to the Adani Group and its companies.

The matter came up before Justice Sachin Datta today, who listed it for Thursday, September 25.

Today, Delhi’s Rohini Court, presided over by District Judge Sunil Chaudhary, transferred the appeals filed by Newslaundry and journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta against the ex parte gag order, directing that the matter be placed before District Judge Ashish Aggarwal, the same judge who, just last week, lifted a similar gag order while hearing an appeal filed by journalists.

During proceedings before the High Court, Senior Advocate Trideep Pais, appearing for journalist Ravish Kumar, informed the court of these developments and submitted, “The learned judge has said that Newslaundry’s appeal, which is Mr Kirpal’s appeal, and my appeal, will both be listed at 2 pm tomorrow before the Delhi court.”

On Friday, journalist Ravish Kumar had also approached the Delhi High Court, challenging a directive of the Central Government asking him to take down allegedly defamatory videos on his YouTube channel relating to the Adani Group and its companies. In his plea, filed through advocate Shantanu Derhgawen, Kumar contended that the order “strikes at the heart of press freedom, which is recognised as the lifeblood of democracy.”

Kumar argued that his content falls within the sphere of journalism protected by the Constitution, namely, investigations into matters of public concern, corporate accountability, and democratic oversight of powerful institutions. The petition seeks an appropriate writ quashing the impugned order dated September 16, 2025, and declaring it unconstitutional, ultra vires, and violative of Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution.

A similar petition has also been filed by digital news platform Newslaundry, challenging a directive of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) seeking removal of content related to Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL). The plea assails an MIB communication dated September 16, 2025, which directed the platform to comply with an ex parte gag order passed by the Rohini District Court.

The order, dated September 6, was issued against journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta and several others, restraining them from publishing allegedly defamatory content concerning Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) on websites and social media platforms. It was passed by Senior Civil Judge Anuj Kumar Singh of the Rohini Courts in a civil suit filed by AEL. The company alleged that a sustained defamatory campaign by journalists, activists, and organisations had damaged its global reputation, disrupted projects, and shaken investor confidence.

Taking cognisance, the trial court registered the suit, issued summons to the defendants, and directed service through multiple modes, including registered post, electronic means such as WhatsApp and email, and dasti service. The court further ordered: “The plaintiff is given opportunity to apply to intermediaries/concerned agencies with details of the URLs/posts/hyperlinks/articles on the basis of this order, and intermediaries/concerned agencies are directed to take down/remove the alleged defamatory articles/posts/URLs whereby the prima facie defamatory material is published against the plaintiff within 36 hours. However, they shall preserve the contents and record till further orders from this Court.”

The judge observed that AEL had established a prima facie case, with the balance of convenience in its favour, since further circulation of unverified content could deepen reputational harm and inflict irreparable loss on investors and stakeholders.

However, last Thursday, a Delhi court set aside the Rohini trial court’s sweeping restraint order that had barred journalists Ravi Nair, Abir Dasgupta, Ayaskant Das, and Ayush Joshi from publishing allegedly defamatory reports against AEL. The appellate court stressed that broad pre-publication restrictions were legally unsustainable. It also noted that the earlier order effectively allowed the plaintiff to approach intermediaries for removal of material it considered defamatory. “An incorrect determination by intermediaries would bring those who have not complied with it in the teeth of contempt,” the judge remarked. Accordingly, the order was set aside, but its effect was limited to the appellants before the court.

Instant petition will be taken up on Thursday, September 25, 2025

Case Title: Newslaundry vs Union of India, Ravish Kumar vs Union of India

Bench: Justice Sachin Datta

Hearing Date: September 22