Delhi High Court Restrains HarperCollins From Publishing Confidential Info Of Players In Ex-Hockey India Coach's New Book

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday temporarily restrained the former coach of Indian Women Hockey Team Sjoerd Marijne and HarperCollins Publishers India from publishing confidential information about women players in his upcoming memoir.

The Book authored by Marijne titled "Will Power: The Inside Story of the Incredible Turnaround in Indian Women's Hockey", is yet to be released.

Justice Amit Bansal was of the view that grave and irreparable injury will be caused to the players if the portions in question come out in public domain. 

The court also prima facie observed that Marijne had breached the confidentiality clause as mentioned in the code of conduct of Hockey India by disclosing confidential information about the players.

"Consequently, till the next date of hearing, an ad interim injunction is passed restraining the defendants from publishing the book containing portions as highlighted above….," the court ordered while posting the matter for hearing next on November 18.

The order was passed in a suit filed by Hockey India against Marijne and HarperCollins Publishers India Private Limited over the alleged violation of code of conduct by the author. It has been alleged that confidential details of various players have been disclosed in the book.

The suit also raised the issue of copyright violation with respect to using certain photographs for which Hockey India had copyright.

Justice Bansal relied on an order dated September 19 passed by a division bench, in an appeal by one of the hockey players Gurjit Kaur, restraining Marijne as well as HarperCollins from publishing any material relating to her medical condition.

The division bench had observed that there can be no quarrel with the decision of the Supreme Court that the right to protection of data such as medial information is one which falls within the domain of "reasonable expectation paradigm."

Taking note of the said order, the court passed ad interim injunction in favour of Hockey India.

Title: HOCKEY INDIA v. HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED & ANR.