The Delhi High Court has sought a response from Wikimedia Foundation, which operates the Wikipedia platform, regarding a fresh application filed by Asian News International (ANI). ANI has requested an interim injunction over allegedly defamatory content published on its Wikipedia page titled "Asian News International."
The fresh application for an interim injunction has been filed by ANI following the liberty granted by the Supreme Court to approach the single judge again for relief. Justice Jyoti Singh, hearing the matter, issued a notice to Wikimedia Foundation and gave them three weeks to respond.
ANI was represented by Advocate Siddhant Kumar, while Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal appeared for Wikimedia Foundation. During the hearing, Sibal requested additional time to submit a response. At this, Justice Singh questioned that if ANI's claim of defamation was true, then who would suffer the consequences?
In response, Sibal argued that the matter lacked urgency, highlighting that the allegedly defamatory content had been present on the Wikipedia page since 2019, while the defamation suit was only filed in 2024. He further stated that Wikimedia is challenging the plea on grounds of limitation, jurisdiction, and maintainability.
"He files the suit in 2024 for something which has been since 2019. Now he says urgency…" – Advocate Akhil Sibal
Following these submissions, the High Court issued notice on ANI's plea and scheduled the next hearing for July 7.
Background of the Dispute
The legal dispute began when ANI filed a defamation suit against Wikimedia Foundation, alleging that the content on its Wikipedia page contained defamatory statements affecting its credibility and editorial policies. ANI demanded damages worth ₹2 crores and requested the removal of the defamatory content.
In April, a coordinate bench of the High Court provided interim relief to ANI in the main defamation case, directing Wikimedia to remove the allegedly defamatory content from the Wikipedia page.
However, the High Court’s division bench later partly stayed this order, restricting the enforcement of directions that required Wikipedia to remove the protection status of ANI's page and prevent users from publishing defamatory material.
The Supreme Court later intervened and set aside the interim injunction orders issued by the Delhi High Court. The Supreme Court stated that the High Court's order was "very broadly worded" and could not be implemented effectively.
In another related order, the Supreme Court set aside a division bench’s directive to delete the Wikipedia page on defamation proceedings initiated by ANI, deeming it prima facie contemptuous and an interference in court proceedings.
Title: ANI v. Wikimedia Foundation & Ors.
