Delhi High Court Rejects Vantara's Contempt Plea Seeking Deletion Of Himal Southasian Article On Ill-Treatment Of Elephants

The Delhi High Court has dismissed a contempt petition filed by Anant Ambani led Vantara, seeking deletion of an article published on online platform Himal Southasian alleging ill-treatment and transfer of elephants.

Justice Anish Dayal rejected the plea filed by Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre Society and Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre Society against Himal Southasian and its editor Roman Gautam.

The contempt plea was filed by Vantara, which is spread across 3,000 acres inside Reliance's Jamnagar refinery complex, alleging that Himal Southasian and its editor did not comply with an order passed by a coordinate bench last year, observing that the article had trappings of sensationalism in journalism.

Vantara had argued that the publication was still available online and that despite the coordinate bench's order, Himal Southasian ought to have deleted the article.

“The Respondent No. 1 and 2 are therefore guilty of breaching the direction and / or expectation contained in the Order dated 27.08.2024. The Respondent No. 1 is administered and managed by the Respondent No. 2. The Respondent No. 1 and 2 have wilfully and blatantly breached the clearly implicit direction and expectation contained in the Order dated 27.08.2024,” the contempt plea said.

Himal Southasian was represented by Advocates Vrinda Grover and Soutik Banerjee.

Title: GREENS ZOOLOGICAL RESCUE AND REHABILITATION CENTRE SOCIETY & ANR v. HIMAL SOUTHASIAN & ORS. 

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 586