Madras High Court: In a defamation suit filed by cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a Single Judge Bench of Dr. R.N. Manjula, J., recorded that transcription and translation of CDs was a humongous task requiring the time and energy of one Interpreter and a Typist for nearly 3—4 months. The Court observed that in view of the extraneous circumstances and the earlier order dated 28-10-2025, it was obligatory on the part of the plaintiff to bear the cost. Consequently, the charges were fixed at Rs 10 Lakhs payable by the plaintiff to the Chief Justice Relief Fund of the Court on or before 12-03-2026, with a direction to the Interpreter to complete the work before the 3rd week of March 2026.
The Court emphasised that the Interpreter has submitted that it is a humongous task and it takes much time and energy of at least one Interpreter and a Typist for nearly 3 to 4 months to complete the same. It was further submitted before the Court that since the entire time of one Interpreter and the involvement of a Typist is also required and the additional cost is also involved in preparing the copies, the charges for transcription and translation is fixed at a sum of Rs 10 Lakhs which is payable by the plaintiff.
The Court observed that in normal circumstances and in a suit filed by the plaintiff, it is the plaintiff who has to do the above work and file the documents along with his plaint. As the engagement of official Interpreter is needed in view of the extraneous circumstances and as mentioned in the earlier order dated 28-10-2025, it is obligatory on the part of the plaintiff to pay the cost of the job done.
The Court directed that the Interpreter must complete the transcription and translation of the CDs before the third week of March 2026. The Court further ordered the plaintiff to deposit a sum of Rs 10 Lakhs into the account of the Chief Justice Relief Fund of the Court, on or before 12-03-2026.
[Mahendra Singh Dhoni v. Zee Media Corpn. Ltd., C.S. No. 185 of 2014, decided on 11-02-2026]