Contempt proceedings were closed after Wikipedia took down an article titled ‘Asian News International v. Wikimedia Foundation’.
- The article criticized ANI news agency’s defamation lawsuit against Wikimedia Foundation (Wikipedia’s parent foundation).
- ANI has filed a defamation lawsuit as Wikipedia page on ANI described ANI as a propaganda tool for the central government, and misreporting events.
High court Judgement
- Court ruled that article violated the sub-judice principle, which prohibits publications or statements or commentary that could influence the court or prejudice an ongoing case.
- Court highlighted that Wikipedia page describing criticism of the lawsuit “amounts to interference in Court proceedings”.
Contempt of Court
- Contempt of Court Act, 1971 defines Contempt of Court as Civil Contempt or Criminal Contempt.
- Civil contempt: Wilful disobedience to any judgment, decree, direction, order, writ or other process of court.
- Criminal contempt: Publishing content or performing actions that:
- scandalize or diminish a court's authority; or
- prejudices, or interferes with due course of judicial proceeding; or
- interferes with or obstructs administration of justice.
- Constitutional Provisions:
- Article 129: Makes the Supreme Court a ‘court of record’ and confers power to punish for contempt of itself.
- Article 215 confers similar powers on High Courts.
- Article 142: Allows the Supreme Court to make any order for punishment of contempt of itself.
- Article 129: Makes the Supreme Court a ‘court of record’ and confers power to punish for contempt of itself.