The Crossbill News Desk
The legal battle over the ex-parte gag order restraining reporting on Adani Enterprises took another turn on Tuesday (September 23), as the Principal District and Sessions Judge at Delhi’s Rohini Court declined to transfer the appeals filed by journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta and Newslaundry.
Both had sought to shift their challenges against the order to the judge who had earlier quashed it in the case of four other journalists.
A day earlier, on September 22, District Judge Sunil Chaudhary had transferred the appeals to Judge Ashish Aggarwal.
However, Principal District and Sessions Judge Gurvinder Pal Singh ruled on Tuesday that since arguments in Guha Thakurta’s appeal were already advanced before Judge Chaudhary, the matter should remain with him, Live Law reported.
At first, the Principal Judge observed that “propriety demands that order be passed by similar judge,” but later asked advocate Apar Gupta, appearing for Guha Thakurta, whether he had any objection to Judge Chaudhary hearing the matter. Gupta responded that difficulties could arise if inconsistencies emerged between orders of Judge Chaudhary and Judge Aggarwal.
“You show the other court’s order. One is already decided. The appellate court (Judge Chaudhary) will have benefit of other court. It will become more wiser,” the Principal Judge said.
A similar direction was passed in Newslaundry’s case, with both appeals now scheduled to be heard on Wednesday (September 24).
On September 18, Judge Aggarwal had stayed the ex parte gag order restraining journalists Ravi Nair, Abir Dasgupta, Ayaskant Das and Ayush Joshi from publishing reports allegedly “defaming” Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL).
On the same day, Judge Chaudhary reserved orders on Guha Thakurta’s plea against the order, while Aggarwal set it aside for the other four journalists. It was following this that Judge Chaudhary had transferred the matter.
The ex parte interim order in question was passed by the Rohini court on September 6, directing several journalists and activists to remove articles and social media posts referring to AEL and barring them from publishing similar material until the next hearing.
The order drew criticism from journalist bodies, which also expressed dismay at the Information & Broadcasting Ministry’s subsequent notice asking media outlets and YouTube channels to take down content mentioning the Adani Group.
Both had sought to shift their challenges against the order to the judge who had earlier quashed it in the case of four other journalists.
A day earlier, on September 22, District Judge Sunil Chaudhary had transferred the appeals to Judge Ashish Aggarwal.
However, Principal District and Sessions Judge Gurvinder Pal Singh ruled on Tuesday that since arguments in Guha Thakurta’s appeal were already advanced before Judge Chaudhary, the matter should remain with him, Live Law reported.
At first, the Principal Judge observed that “propriety demands that order be passed by similar judge,” but later asked advocate Apar Gupta, appearing for Guha Thakurta, whether he had any objection to Judge Chaudhary hearing the matter. Gupta responded that difficulties could arise if inconsistencies emerged between orders of Judge Chaudhary and Judge Aggarwal.
“You show the other court’s order. One is already decided. The appellate court (Judge Chaudhary) will have benefit of other court. It will become more wiser,” the Principal Judge said.
A similar direction was passed in Newslaundry’s case, with both appeals now scheduled to be heard on Wednesday (September 24).
On September 18, Judge Aggarwal had stayed the ex parte gag order restraining journalists Ravi Nair, Abir Dasgupta, Ayaskant Das and Ayush Joshi from publishing reports allegedly “defaming” Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL).
On the same day, Judge Chaudhary reserved orders on Guha Thakurta’s plea against the order, while Aggarwal set it aside for the other four journalists. It was following this that Judge Chaudhary had transferred the matter.
The ex parte interim order in question was passed by the Rohini court on September 6, directing several journalists and activists to remove articles and social media posts referring to AEL and barring them from publishing similar material until the next hearing.
The order drew criticism from journalist bodies, which also expressed dismay at the Information & Broadcasting Ministry’s subsequent notice asking media outlets and YouTube channels to take down content mentioning the Adani Group.
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