Delhi HC issues summons and notice to news channels in Bollywood’s civil suit against irresponsible reporting

On October 12, Bollywood’s 34 leading production houses and associations had filed a civil suit before Delhi High Court against Republic TV, Mr. Arnab Goswami & Mr. Pradeep Bhandari of Republic TV, Times Now, Mr. Rahul Shivshankar and Ms. Navika Kumar of Times Now, and unknown defendant for irresponsible reporting.

In the latest update on this civil suit filed by the Bollywood’s leading production houses, the Delhi High Court has now issued summon and notice to respondent news channels.

Sharing an update on the case, news agency ANI tweeted, “Delhi High Court issues summons and notice to respondent news channels in the suit filed by Bollywood filmmakers seeking directions to Republic TV and Times Now, and their prominent faces, to refrain from making irresponsible, derogatory and defamatory remarks against Bollywood.”

Delhi High Court issues summons and notice to respondent news channels in the suit filed by Bollywood filmmakers seeking directions to Republic TV and Times Now, and their prominent faces, to refrain from making irresponsible, derogatory and defamatory remarks against Bollywood

— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2020

According to the report of Bar and Bench, the Delhi court has also asked the news channels to ensure that no defamatory content is displayed or uploaded on social media. Justice Rajiv Shakdher also recorded assurances given by the media houses that they would abide by the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks Rules. Further hearing on the case will take place on December 14.

The civil suit was filed by Bollywood producers and associations in the wake of the news channels using highly derogatory words and expressions for Bollywood such as “dirt”, “filth”, “scum”, “druggies” and expressions such as “it is Bollywood where the dirt needs to be cleaned”, “all the perfumes of Arabia cannot take away the stench and the stink of this filth and scum of the underbelly of Bollywood”, “This is the dirtiest industry in the country”, and “cocaine and LSD drenched Bollywood”.

The plaintiffs had previously said that they are not seeking a blanket gag order against media reportage of the investigation in the cases relating to the death of Mr. Sushant Singh Rajput or of FIRs No. 15 and 16/2020 filed by the NCB, Mumbai. They are merely seeking a perpetual and mandatory injunction against the Defendants from carrying on reportage and publication of material that violates applicable laws. The plaintiffs had also stated that Bollywood’s civil suit is aimed at the entire media industry and not just select news channels.

Some of the prominent production houses and associations who have filed the civil suit against these media houses are Salman Khan Films, Yashraj Films, Aamir Khan Productions, Ad-Labs Films, Ajay Devgn Fflims, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, Dharma Productions, Red Chillies Entertainment, The Film & Television Producers Guild Of India (PGI), The Cine & TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) and Indian Film and TV Producers Council (IFTPC) to name a few.

Also Read: Bollywood’s leading production houses & associations file a civil suit against certain media houses for irresponsible reporting

Pooja Sharma

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