Madhya Pradesh HC issues notice in BJP MLA’s plea for gag order against use of his name in reporting son alleging physical torture of his wife, having affairs with several women
The Madhya Pradesh High Court issued notice in BJP MLA’s plea for gag order against use of his name in reporting son alleging physical torture of his wife, having affairs with several women.
Background
Petitioner has filed the petition making a prayer to pass gag order and direct respondents not to publish, print or telecast any news mentioning the name of petitioner regarding the private affair of son of petitioner.
Arguments
Advocate Pankaj Dubey, appearing for the petitioner, contended that there is marital dispute between son of petitioner and his daughter in law. Said affair is the private life of petitioner’s son and daughter-in-law. Press is unnecessarily publishing the name of the petitioner though he has nothing to do with the marital dispute of his son and daughter-in-law. News is published in such a way so as to defame the petitioner.
He relied on Norms of Journalistic Conduct and urged that caution is to be exercised against defamatory writings and there has to be pre publication verification by Press. Press has not conform to norms of Journalistic Conduct.
He further argued that the privacy of public figures is also to be maintained. Intentionally for getting increased readership/viewership respondents are publishing the news in such a way so as to defame the petitioner and connect him with the matter. They are not maintaining the privacy of the petitioner and not following the Norms of Journalistic Conduct.
Decision
The single judge bench of Justice Vishal Dhagat issued notice to respondents returnable within four weeks.
The court as an interim measure directed the respondent to take care that they will conform with the Norms of Journalistic Conduct and will not publish the name of petitioner in marital dispute of his son which does not involve him. Privacy of petitioner is to be maintained by respondents and no news be published by his name.
Case title: Jalam Singh Patel vs Union of India and Ors.
Citation: WP No. 3610 of 2022
