Delhi HC restrains P A Sangma from 'repeating defamatory' statements against Mukul M Sangma

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has granted relief to Meghalaya chief minister Mukul M Sangma by restraining senior politician and former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma from “repeating defamatory” statements against the CM.
“Till the next date of hearing (November 24), the defendant No 1 (P A Sangma) is restrained from repeating the defamatory statements made on January 17, 2014, January 19, 2014 and June 4, 2014 or releasing any defamatory statements in the manner already made against the plaintiff (CM) to the press/television channels or on the internet without any cogent and clear evidence,” Justice Manmohan Singh directed in a recent interim order.
The state’s chief minister who belongs to the Congress party, has filed a defamation lawsuit against P A Sangma seeking damages of Rs 25 crores for remarks against him made to the media and on public platforms.
CM Sangma has also sought an “ex-parte ad-interim order” against P A Sangma, who too is a former Chief Minister of the State and against a television news channel and an news daily based in Shillong.
HC also issued notices to P A Sangma and other respondents observing that the Chief Minister has made out a strong prima facie case for grant of interim injunction against them.
“Let the plaint be registered as a suit. Issue summons to the defendants, on filing of process fee and registered AD covers within one week,” HC said while posting the matter for November 24.
“It is correct that freedom of expression in press and media is the part of Article 19(1) of the Constitution of India where by all the citizens have a right to express their view. However, the said right of the expression is also not absolute but is subjected to the reasonable restrictions...,” the court observed while entertaining the CM’s defamation suit.