{"id":350207,"date":"2025-06-09T19:00:55","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T13:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=350207"},"modified":"2025-06-13T09:43:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T04:13:23","slug":"telangana-hc-quashes-gag-order-passed-against-the-news-minute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/06\/09\/telangana-hc-quashes-gag-order-passed-against-the-news-minute\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Injunction granted without adhering to established legal principles\u2019; Telangana HC quashes gag order passed against The News Minute in MEIL defamation case"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Telangana High Court:<\/span> In a batch of appeals filed against an ad interim ex parte injunction order passed against The News Minute (\u2018TNM\u2019) and others, restraining them from publishing content about Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd. (\u2018MEIL\u2019), the Division Bench of <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">T. Vinod Kumar<\/span>* and P. Shree Sudha, JJ., allowed the appeals, holding that the impugned order amounted to a gag order which was passed without adhering to the established legal principles.<\/p>\n<h3>Background of the MEIL Defamation Case<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">A defamation suit for damages was filed by MEIL against the appellants herein, including Spunklane Media Pvt. Ltd.\/ TNM , for their publications made in 2022. MEIL also filed a mandatory injunction application to restrain the appellants or their representatives, employees, agents, or anyone acting on their behalf from publishing, circulating, spreading, or otherwise communicating such content to the public which contained libellous, slanderous and defamatory content against Megha Engineering and its management.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The said defamatory publications alleged MEIL\u2019s involvement in financial misconduct and political dealings. In one of the news reports, the appellants stated that MEIL funded the marriage of a senior IAS officer&#8217;s daughter. Furthermore, in another publication, the e-magazine of DISHA published that MEIL expanded its business nationally by providing election funds amounting to Rupees 27 crores to Bharatiya Janta Party, alleging a \u2018quid pro quo\u2019 arrangement.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Trial Court, vide the impugned order, granted ad-interim ex parte injunction in favour of MEIL. Aggrieved, the appellants filed the present appeals.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">TNM contended that the impugned order was a \u2018gag\u2019 order, which violated Articles <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001574926\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">19(1)(a)<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001574926\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">19(1)(g)<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726967\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Constitution<\/a>. They further contend that the impugned order violated principles of natural justice, particularly the principle of \u2018<span style=\"font-style: italic;\">audi alterm partem<\/span>\u2019 as the said order was passed without giving an opportunity for hearing to the appellants.<\/p>\n<h3>Analysis<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">At the outset, the Court stated that as per Order <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001523439\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">39 Rule 3<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726944\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Code of Civil Procedure, 1908<\/a> (\u2018CPC\u2019), any Court while granting ad-interim ex parte injunction order without issuing notice to the opposite party shall record reasons for its opinion that the object of granting the injunction would be defeated by delay. Any person being aggrieved by such an order cannot approach the appellate or revisional Court straight away and is required to avail the remedies provided under Order 39 itself.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Stating this, the Court noted that in the instant case, the appellants preferred the present appeals without availing the alternative remedy provided under Order 39 of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726944\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CPC<\/a>. However, the Court opined that the present appeals were liable to be allowed since the impugned order was contrary to Order <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001523439\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">39 Rule 3<\/a> Proviso and Rule 31 of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726944\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CPC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court stated that the impugned order was passed without specifying any period within which the appellants were required to take steps to get the same vacated. Therefore, the said order also took away the right of the appellants to file counter, which the Court is required to consider within 30 days from the date of granting an initial injunction under Order <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001523440\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">39 Rule 3-A<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726944\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CPC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Considering the ad-interim ex-parte injunction passed in the present case, the Court stated that it was not only unreasoned but also did not specify the period during which it would be in force before the appellants appeared in the matter. Thus, the passing of the said order was contrary to the mandate under the CPC and impermissible. In this regard, the Court referred to <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Morgan Stanley Mutual Fund v. Kartick Das<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/r0381eGU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(1994) 4 SCC 225<\/a>, which laid down the salient principles that every Court must follow before granting ex parte ad interim injunction.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court held that the nature of the impugned order amounted to a gag order since it scuttles the throat of the press, i.e., the appellants. A gag order refers to judicial or executive action that prohibits individuals from expressing or making any public statements. The Court remarked that while gag orders were recognised as a tool to maintain the integrity of legal proceedings, their application should be scrutinized. The Courts must ensure that \u2018gag\u2019 orders are necessary, proportionate, and do not infringe upon constitutional rights, particularly the fundamental right to free speech. Any restriction on the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001574926\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">19(1)(a)<\/a> must strictly conform to the grounds enumerated in Article <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001574926\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">19(2)<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726967\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Constitution<\/a>. In this regard, the Court referred to <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Mohd. Zubair v. State (NCT of Delhi)<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/8Ko1H76U\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(2023) 16 SCC 764<\/a>, wherein it was held that Gag orders have a chilling effect on the freedom of speech.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Referring to <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">S. Basavaraj v. Bar Council of India<\/span>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/UeCiGUvC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2024 SCC OnLine Kar 104<\/a>, the Court reiterated that gag orders or orders of restraint or injunction should be passed only when necessary to prevent a substantial risk to the fairness of a trial. In the absence of any such substantial risk, the Court cannot pass any restraint or gag order. The Court also referred to <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Wikimedia Foundation Inc. v. ANI Media (P) Ltd.<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/f878HGIw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2025 SCC OnLine SC 1115<\/a>, wherein it was held that it is not the duty of the court to tell the media: delete this, take that down.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court further reiterated that the words \u2018freedom of speech and expression\u2019 must be broadly construed to include the freedom to circulate one&#8217;s views by word of mouth, in writing, or through audio-visual instrumentalities. Therefore, it includes the right to propagate one&#8217;s views through the print media or any other communication channel. It is obvious that subject to reasonable restrictions placed under Article 19(2), a citizen has a right to publish, circulate, and disseminate his views, and any attempt to thwart or deny the same would offend Article 19(1)(a).<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Upon examination of the allegedly defamatory publications, the Court stated that it was evident that MEIL filed the suit for damages about the alleged defamatory content nearly a year after the initial publication. Furthermore, it opted to file a suit for recovery of damages for defamation, rather than a suit for defamation, which specifically addresses the defamation. Furthermore, the Court noted that MEIL deliberately suppressed the fact that it filed another suit seeking similar reliefs against similar publications, and the said suit was pending adjudication.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Thus, the Court held that this act of suppression by MEIL amounted to a clear abuse of the process of law, and since the ad-interim injunction was granted without adhering to the established legal principles, the Court further held that the impugned order could not be sustained.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Accordingly, the appeals were allowed, and the impugned order was set aside.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">[<span style=\"font-weight: bold; color: #632423;\">Gajjala Narasimha Reddy v. Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd., <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/t6h41i5Y\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2025 SCC OnLine TS 284<\/a>, decided on 28-05-2025<\/span>]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #000080;\">*Judgment authored by: Justice T. Vinod Kumar<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Advocates who appeared in this case :<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">For the appellants:<\/span> T Rajinikanth Reddy, Sai Sanjay Suraneni, and A Chandra Shaker<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">For the respondent:<\/span> V Seetharama Avadhani and Senior Counsel K.V. Bhanu<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #000080;\">Buy Constitution of India \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product\/the-constitution-of-india-coat-pocket-edition?products_id=100647\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product\/the-constitution-of-india-coat-pocket-edition?products_id=100647\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-294438\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/ebcwebstore\/images\/the-constitution-of-india-coat-pocket-edition-Gopal-Sankaranarayanan-ebc-front-cover.JPG\" alt=\"Constitution of India\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">&#8220;The ad-interim ex-parte injunction is not only unreasoned but also does not specify the time period during which it would be in force.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67524,"featured_media":315575,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[3622,37090,3623,25474,83276,72529,83274,33941,83275],"class_list":["post-350207","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-casebriefs","category-highcourts","tag-defamation","tag-freedom-of-press","tag-freedom_of_speech","tag-gag-order","tag-justice-p-shree-sudha","tag-justice-t-vinod-kumar","tag-megha-engineering-infrastructures-ltd","tag-telangana-high-court","tag-the-news-minute"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.4 (Yoast SEO v26.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>MEIL defamation: Telangana High quashes Gag order| SCC Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"MEIL defamation case: Telangana HC quashed gag order passed against The News Minute &amp; 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