'If You Don’t Like India, Don’t Work Here': Delhi HC Issues Contempt Of Court Notice To Wikipedia

The Delhi High Court on Thursday (5 September) issued a contempt of court notice to Wikipedia after ANI accused the platform of failing to comply with orders to disclose information on subscribers who made allegedly defamatory edits on news agency's Wikipedia page.

Taking strong objection to Wikipedia's conduct, Justice Navin Chawla stated, "I will impose contempt...It is not a question of Defendant No 1 [Wikipedia] not being an entity in India. We will close your business transactions here. We will ask the government to block Wikipedia...Earlier also you people have taken this argument. If you don’t like India, please don’t work in India," Bar and Bench reported.

The Court directed that an authorised representative from Wikipedia must appear in person on 25 October when the case will be heard again.

ANI has filed a defamation suit against Wikipedia, saying that the platform allowed defamatory edits on its page which referred to the news agency as a "propaganda tool" for the present government.

Earlier, the High Court had issued summons to Wikipedia, instructing the platform to disclose information about three people who made the edits on ANI's Wikipedia page.

Today, ANI filed a contempt application in the High Court, alleging that Wikipedia had failed to comply with the court’s order.

Wikipedia's counsel told the Court that it has to make certain submissions regarding the order of the Court, and it took the time to appear because Wikipedia is not based in India.

Justice Chawla noted that this argument, taken by Wikipedia in earlier matter, has been rejected in earlier cases and warned that the Court will initiate contempt of court action against the platform.

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