Parties can’t misuse media for political purpose: HC

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday ruled that political parties cannot misuse print media for political purposes by making false and defamatory statements against rival parties.

Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta said while citizens have the right to truthful information to form opinions about social processes, the integrity of political discourse must be maintained.

The court made these observations while refusing to quash a defamation case filed by BJP leader Rajeev Babbar against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders.

The case stems from remarks made by Kejriwal and others during a 2018 press conference, where they alleged that the BJP had orchestrated the deletion of 30 lakh voters’ names —belonging to Bania, Poorvanchali and Muslim communities — from the electoral rolls.

The court noted, “A political party cannot be permitted to sponsor the print media for political purposes, thereby stinging mud and making mischievous, false and defamatory imputations on rival political parties.”

It further warned that misleading information in politics could unfairly sway public opinion and provide an unearned political advantage.

Justice Mendiratta pointed out that the allegations made by Kejriwal and AAP leaders lacked factual or legal basis and were damaging to the BJP’s reputation.

The court dismissed the plea by Kejriwal and others to quash the defamation case, vacating an interim order from 2020 that had stayed the trial.

The case will proceed, with the parties directed to appear before the trial court on October 3. The High Court clarified that its observations do not reflect an opinion on the merits of the case.