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Synopsis

The Madras High Court has directed the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) to restore public access to the Ananda Vikatan website, provided that the magazine temporarily removes a contentious cartoon. The cartoon, published on February 10, 2025, depicted Prime Minister Narendra Modi shackled in chains during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, prompting the Ministry to block access to the website on February 25.

The bench Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy passed the interim order on Thursday (March 6, 2025) while hearing a writ petition filed by Ananda Vikatan Productions Private Limited and Ananda Vikatan Publishers Private Limited. The petitioners challenged the Ministry’s decision and sought immediate restoration of their website.

The petitioners contended that the Ministry's action was an excessive curb on journalistic freedom and violated constitutional protections under Article 19(1)(a). They argued that Article 19(2) of the Constitution and Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, enumerate specific grounds for restricting freedom of speech, including sovereignty, integrity, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency, morality, contempt of court, defamation, and incitement to an offence. It was maintained that the cartoon did not fall under any of these grounds.

Opposing the plea, the government argued that the cartoon could harm India’s relations with the United States, as ‘foreign relations’ is a specified ground under both Article 19(2) and Section 69A. It insisted that granting interim relief to the magazine would essentially amount to deciding the entire case in its favor before the government could file its response.

The high court, after considering both arguments, concluded that public access to the entire website need not remain blocked while the case is pending. It directed the magazine to temporarily remove the cartoon and inform the Ministry, enabling restoration of the website. Court also directed the Ministry to file its counter affidavit within two weeks and listed the matter for further hearing on March 21, 2025.