Delhi High Court Issues Notice On Caravan's Plea Against Centre's Order To Remove Article On Army

The Delhi High Court has issued notice on a plea filed by magazine The Caravan challenging an order of the Union Government to take down its article on allegations of torture and murder against the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.

Justice Subramonium Prasad sought response of the Central Government and listed the matter for hearing on May 09.

“Issue notice. Learned Counsel appearing for the Respondent accepts notice. Reply be filed within four weeks from today. Rejoinder thereto, if any, be filed before the next date of hearing,” the court said in an order passed on March 07.

The petition has been filed by Delhi Press Patra Prakashan, the company which launched The Caravan magazine.

The plea challenges the order passed by the Central Government on February 12 directing the magazine to remove some articles from the magazine and 11 URLs from its website.

As per an article published by news portal The Wire, it has been stated that the plea submits that the government's order violates the fundamental right to free speech and expression and the freedom of the press under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India and the right to equality under Article 14.

It is the magazine's case that principles of natural justice was not followed by the Central Government as the copy of the complaint or the allegations made therein were not provided to it.

Counsel for Petitioner: Mr. Chander Uday Singh, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Harsh Bora, Ms. Maulshree Pathak, Mr. Amjid Maqbool, Ms. Viddusshi, Ms. Bidya Mohanty and Ms. Katyayani Shurud, Advocates

Counsel for Respondent: Mr. Apoorv Kurup, CGSC with Mr. Akhil Hasija, Advocate

Title: DELHI PRESS PATRA PRAKASHAN PRIVATE LIMITED v. UNION OF INDIA

Click Here To Read Order