Supreme Court Reverses Delhi HC Decision on 'The Wire' Defamation Case

The Supreme Court has overturned a Delhi High Court decision that quashed a summons issued to the editor and deputy editor of 'The Wire' in a defamation case. The case involves a publication allegedly depicting JNU as a 'den of organised sex racket.' The matter has been remitted to the magistrate for reconsideration.

In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court has set aside a Delhi High Court order that quashed a summons issued to the editor and deputy editor of 'The Wire' in a criminal defamation case. The case centers on a controversial dossier purportedly depicting Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) as a 'den of organised sex racket.'

The defamation complaint was filed by Amita Singh, a former professor at JNU, who claimed the April 2016 publication wrongfully attributed the dossier to her. A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Aravind Kumar ruled that the high court had overstepped its jurisdiction in its March 29, 2023 decision.

The Supreme Court remitted the issue of summons back to the magistrate, emphasizing that all due legal protocols, including reviewing the actual publication, be adhered to before proceeding. The magistrate is instructed to reconsider the matter afresh, uninfluenced by the high court's previous observations.

(With inputs from agencies.)