Supreme Court Sets Aside Delhi HC Order on Wikipedia Content About ANI
Last Updated on April 20, 2025 by NewsDesk SLC
Introduction
On April 17, 2025, the Supreme Court of India set aside the injunction orders issued by the Delhi High Court that required the removal of “defamatory and false” content from the Wikipedia page of ANI Media Pvt Ltd. This ruling permits ANI to apply for a new injunction regarding specific content on the page.
Court’s Observations
The Supreme Court bench, consisting of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, noted that the High Court’s direction to eliminate “all false, misleading and defamatory content” was overly broad and impractical. Instead, the Court allowed ANI to submit a fresh application for an injunction focusing on specific claims that they believe are defamatory.
This decision followed a special leave petition filed by the Wikimedia Foundation, challenging the High Court’s order which mandated the removal of the content related to ANI.
Background of the Case
The legal dispute began when ANI filed a defamation suit against Wikipedia, accusing it of hosting harmful content regarding its credibility and editorial practices. The Wikipedia page in question claimed that ANI acted as a “propaganda tool” for the government and distributed information from fake news sources. ANI asserted that this content was not only false but also maliciously intended to harm its reputation.
In its earlier rulings, the Delhi High Court had directed that Wikipedia must comply with requests from ANI to remove defamatory material within a specified timeframe, a requirement that was contested by Wikimedia.
Recent Developments
On April 2, 2025, the Delhi High Court had granted an interim injunction to ANI, stating that the contested statements were prima facie defamatory. However, this injunction was limited and subject to further legal scrutiny.
In the weeks leading up to the Supreme Court ruling, the Delhi High Court partially stayed the injunction while maintaining the directive to remove specific defamatory content, prompting Wikimedia’s appeal to the Supreme Court.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s decision presents an important development in the ongoing struggle between content management platforms and the legal responsibilities surrounding published information. Moving forward, Wikipedia is encouraged to consider ANI’s specific claims as they navigate the complexities of this case.
Case No. – SLP(C) No. 10637/2025
Case Title – Wikimedia Foundation Inc v. ANI Media Private Limited and Ors.
