'If You Don't Like India, Don't Work Here': Delhi High Court To Wikipedia On ANI's Contempt Plea Over Defamation Dispute

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice on a contempt plea filed by ANI Media Private Limited alleging non compliance of a judicial order asking Wikipedia to disclose information about those who edited the ANI Wikipedia page.

Justice Navin Chawla took strong objection to Wikipedia's counsel submission that it took them time to appear before court as the entity was not based in India.

“We will not take it anymore. If you don't like India, don't work here, the court orally remarked, as it issued notice on ANI's contempt plea.

The dispute arose after ANI filed defamation suit against Wikipedia over allegedly defamatory description of the news agency.

On August 20, Wikipedia had appeared before the Court pursuant to issuance of the summons. It is ANI's case that Wikipedia did not dispute that three individuals, who were made defendants in the defamation suit, were not administrators on the Platform.

Considering the said submission, Wikipedia was directed by the Court to disclose to ANI the subscriber details of the three individuals available with it within two weeks.

ANI then filed the contempt plea against Wikipedia alleging non compliance of the order in question.

While issuing notice in the application, Justice Chawla also remarked that it will ask Wikipedia to close its business transactions in India and will ask the government to block Wikipedia here.

The court asked Wikipedia's authorized representative to remain personally present before the court on the next date of hearing.

ANI had sought to restrain Wikipedia from publishing allegedly defamatory content on the news agency's page on its platform. It has also sought removal of the content. ANI has further sought Rs. 2 crores as damages from Wikipedia.

Wikipedia's page says ANI "has been criticized for having served as a propaganda tool for the incumbent central government, distributing materials from a vast network of fake news websites, and misreporting events.”

In its suit against Wikimedia Foundation and its officials, ANI has said that the former has allegedly published palpably false and defamatory content with malicious intent of tarnishing the news agency's reputation and to discredit its goodwill.

Some of the publications on the Wikipedia page for which ANI is aggrieved are:

- Under a new management, ANI has been accused of practicing an aggressive model of has over 500 Employees. Asian journalism focused at maximum revenue output, where journalists were easily dispensable with. Multiple employees have accused ANI of not having any human resource management system and ill-treating their ex-employees.

- On 20 July 2023, ANI falsely blamed Muslims for the sexual assault and rape of two Kuki women during the 2023 Manipur violence.

ANI has alleged that Wikimedia, through its officials, has actively participated in removing the edits to reverse the content.

“Thus, the conduct of Defendant No. 1 has resulted in a loss of its safe-harbour protection under section 79(1) of the Act, and made it liable for hosting and publishing defamatory content,” the suit states.

Title: ANI MEDIA PVT. LTD. v. WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION INC AND ORS.