Karnataka HC Sets Aside Gag Order Favouring BJP’s Tejasvi Surya

BJP’s Bangalore South Candidate Tejasvi Surya

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook)

Karnataka High Court on Friday, 12 April, in response to a PIL, has reportedly stated that media outlets are not prevented from publishing content, except those which are defamatory in nature against BJP leader Tejasvi Surya.

The PIL was filed by Democratic Reforms Organisation against an injunction order passed by the Bangalore City Civil Court, which barred above 40 media houses from “publishing defamatory and derogatory publications” against him.

Surya is BJP's candidate from the Bangalore South constituency in the Lok Sabha elections.

Surya's lawyers had sent a legal notice to the media outlets warning them of "serious repercussions", in case of violation of the order.

Tejasvi Surya had filed a defamation suit in the civil court after several publications carried news stories reporting allegations of abuse against him.

The articles were prompted by an exchange on Twitter between columnist Shefali Vaidya and one Dr Som Dutta, who alleged that Surya was a “womaniser, abuser and woman beater”. Dr Dutta has since deleted the tweets and deactivated her Twitter handle.

On Friday, however, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice of Karnataka HC, L Narayana Swamy and Justice Dinesh Kumar stated in an order that: "The defendants (media outlets) are not prevented from publishing or telecasting any news item which is not defamatory in their opinion. In case the plaintiff (Tejasvi Surya) is aggrieved by any such publication or telecast of any news item he may approach the Election Commission of India," Deccan Herald reported.

The petitioners had stated that the injunction makes Surya immune to public scrutiny and comes in the way of free and fair election.

(With inputs from Deccan Herald)