The Delhi High Court today dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought to direct the Centre and the Election Commission of India (ECI) to initiate legal action against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. The PIL, filed by Surjit Singh Yadav, who claims to be a farmer and social worker, alleged that these politicians had made misleading and damaging statements aimed at tarnishing India’s reputation.
Yadav in his plea mentioned false statements made by the three politicians regarding alleged waving of loan by the Central Government of Rs 15 or 16 lakh crores “of a few Industrialists.”
The division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, while rejecting the plea said that individuals or entities allegedly defamed have recourse to legal action. The court also stressed the importance of not underestimating the wisdom of the voters.
During the hearing, Acting Chief Justice Manmohan told Yadav’s counsel, “If people or industrialists are aggrieved, they will take action. How can we interfere in this? Don’t underestimate the wisdom of voters. Don’t speak their mind please. Don’t involve us in this….”
“Someone misleads, someone leads. Let the people take the call. Don’t get us involved in this. If people are aggrieved, they will take action,” the court added.
The PIL had sought directives against political parties like the Indian National Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and Samajwadi Party, as well as media platforms like News 24, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, to remove the allegedly false and misleading statements.
The petitioner tried to explain the difference between “write off” and “waive off,” claiming that the media erroneously portrayed the write-off of loans to industrialists as a waiver.
The petitioner said that “write off” is a routine banking practice aimed at balancing financial records, with the expectation of eventual recovery. He claimed that the publication of “misleading statements” by the Gandhi and Kejriwal by certain news organisations was a “deliberate attempt to create a negative image” of the Centre, which has resulted in creating a negative image of the country.
Citing articles dating back over two years, which purportedly claimed that loans amounting to Rs. 68,000 Crore, including those of Mehul Choksi, were waived off for 50 loan defaulters, the plea highlighted a concerted effort by political figures and media entities to distort facts for their own agendas. These purportedly fabricated news pieces, the petitioner argued, have inflicted reputational damage on the country, both domestically and internationally.