The Delhi HC, while hearing a defamation suit filed by Indian Assistant Secretary General at the UN Lakshmi Puri, lashed out at RTI activist, Saket Gokhale, for alleged defamatory tweets against the former.
The bench condemned the way Saket Gokhale posted alleged defamatory tweets without approaching any concerned authority.
Through the alleged defamatory tweets, the RTI activist not only raised queries against Lakshmi Puri, but also her husband’s source of income and the assets owned by them. The tweets went on referring the plaintiff as a thief and black money hoarder.
The bench observed that each citizen has a Right to Reputation under fundamental Right to live with dignity and liberty. The bench clarified that it was not questioning the right of general comment to make a public comment on any public servant, rather the manner in which allegations were published against a retired public servant without seeking any confirmation from concerned authorities.
The counsel on behalf of defendant answered that unfortunately, the same has been reiterated by the law of the land. The bench, in response to this, stated that if rights are interpreted in such a defamatory manner, then it is the way defendant understands the law.
The bench asked the counsel on behalf of defendant whether he was willing to take down the alleged defamatory remarks, to which the plaintiff responded in negative.
The bench expressed its concern and stated that the law does not allow citizens’ to write anything for destroying other person’s reputation/image in the eyes of right-thinking people. Accordingly, the bench has reserved its orders for the instant case.
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