The Delhi High Court on Friday, 20 March 2026, directed digital media platform Newslaundry to remove certain content that was found to be insulting and damaging to TV Today Network and its channels, Aaj Tak and India Today, while hearing cross appeals in an ongoing dispute involving allegations of defamation, disparagement, and copyright infringement, as reported in Law Chakra.
A Division Bench comprising Justices C Hari Shankar and Om Prakash Shukla observed that portions of the language used by Newslaundry crossed the limits of fair criticism and were prima facie offensive.
The Court specifically objected to expressions such as “shit”, “shit show”, “high on weed or opium” and “your punctuation is as bad as your journalism” and ordered that these remarks be removed from all online platforms, including Newslaundry’s website and social media handles.
While delivering its order, the Bench concurred with the earlier findings of the single-judge Bench and stated, “We are in agreement with the learned single judge’s finding that a prima facie case of commercial disparagement has been made out. The statements identified in the impugned order [of the single judge] are clearly without any independent standard and are biased and therefore constituted disparagement under the applicable legal principles.”
The Court further held that allowing such content to remain accessible would cause serious and irreparable harm to the reputation of TV Today. It noted, “Such harm cannot be compensated by monetary relief or any other relief. Therefore, interim protection is warranted… Any refusal of interim protection at this stage will cause great prejudice to the plaintiff [TV Today].”
Based on these findings, the Bench partly allowed TV Today’s appeal and directed immediate removal of the objectionable content.
The dispute dates back to October 2021, when TV Today Network initiated legal proceedings against Newslaundry, alleging that the platform had published videos and articles containing “false, malicious and derogatory” statements targeting its channels, anchors, and management.
Newslaundry, in its defence, maintained that its content constituted media criticism and satire, arguing that such expression is protected under the right to freedom of speech.
Earlier, on 29 July 2022, a single-judge Bench of the High Court had declined to grant interim relief to TV Today. This led both parties to file appeals before the Division Bench, with TV Today challenging the denial of interim protection and Newslaundry expressing concern that adverse prima facie observations could prejudice its case.
During hearings in January 2025, the Division Bench had also taken note of the use of the word “shit” by Newslaundry journalist Manisha Pande in one of the videos and indicated that such language could invite strict observations affecting her professional standing.
However, the Bench subsequently clarified its position, stating, “She may be a good journalist. This may be an aberration also. At that point, that was our gut reaction…You can tell the journalist concerned that she need not be worried about this,”
The case involved multiple counsels, with TV Today represented by advocates Hrishikesh Baruah, Kumar Kshitij, Utkarsh Dwivedi, Pragya Agarwal, Yashaswy Ghosh and Nishtha Sachan. Newslaundry was represented by Senior Advocate Rajshekhar Rao along with advocates Bani Dikshit and Uddhav Khanna.
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