NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court has set aside an interim order passed by a single judge Bench restraining Cobrapost from publishing its sting operation against prominent media houses.
A bench of Justices S. Ravindra Bhat and A.K. Chawla said the ex-parte injunction, granted on the plea of Dainik Bhaskar Corporation Ltd, to subsist during the entirety of the pendency of the suit, was unjustified. The High Court Friday directed the parties to remain present before the single judge on October 3.
Earlier Cobrapost released sting operation materials of its documentary called ‘Operation 136: Part II’. The two-part sting operation showcases how top media houses, including top television networks and popular newspapers, are open to accepting payment in order to publish articles and telecast shows.
“Undoubtedly, the new age media, especially the electronic media and internet posts greater challenges. That per se ought not to dilute valuable right of free speech which, if one may say so, is the lifeblood of democracy,” the High Court said. The bench held that “those who fill public positions must not be too thin-skinned in respect of references made upon them.
