Delhi Court Reserves Verdict On Journalist Paranjoy Thakurta's Appeal Against Adani Gag Order; No Interim Relief

District Judge Sunil Chaudhary of Delhi's Rohini Court on Wednesday reserved order on the appeal filed by journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta against ex-parte gag order restraining reporting against Adani Enterprises.

Earlier, judge Chaudhary had recused from passing orders even after hearing Paranjoy's appeal in great detail, in light of an order of District Judge Ashish Aggarwal quashing the ex-parte gag order qua four journalists. Judge Chaudhary had directed that the appeals be placed before the Principal judge, for re-assignment to Judge Aggarwal's court.

Yesterday, Principal District and Sessions Judge refused to transfer the appeal, following which the matter was again listed before judge Chaudhary.

In this backdrop, Senior Advocate Jagdeep Sharma appearing for Adani Enterprises argued that judge Aggarwal had not said anything on merits and thus, that order is not binding. "The other court cant impose its views on your lordships," he submitted.

For context, judge Aggarwal had observed that the allegedly defamatory articles had been in public domain for long and hence, the civil judge ought to have heard the journalists before directing take down of their articles.

Sharma submitted that the journalist may appear before the senior civil judge who passed the ex-parte order and avail the statutory remedies there. He undertook that meanwhile, no coercive steps will be taken against Appellants until Friday, when the main suit is listed before the civil judge.

Advocate Apar Gupta appearing for Guha however claimed that coercive steps have already been taken based on the impugned ex-parte order. "If the ex parte order is stayed today, I'll be able to get the articles restored," he submitted.

Thereafter, the Court reserved its verdict.

Counsel for Guha: Advocates Apar Gupta, Indumugi C and Naman Kumar

Counsel for Adani Enterprises: Sr. Adv. Jagdeep K. Sharma, Mr. Naman Joshi, Mr. Guneet Sidhu , Mr. Verdaan Jain, Mr. Rahul, Mr. Ayush Jindal, Ms. Pragati Gupta