Today, the Delhi High Court issued a warning to Wikimedia Pvt Ltd (Wikipedia) regarding its perceived threats against the single judge handling a defamation case brought by Asian News International (ANI).

This warning came after the court noted a Wikipedia page that suggested Judge Navin Chawla had threatened to order the Indian government to shut down Wikipedia in the country.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, was considering an application from Wikipedia seeking permission to submit relevant documents under seal. Advocate Sibal, representing Wikimedia, raised concerns about the implications of disclosing the author's identity.

The court, however, pointed out that Wikimedia accused an ANI journalist of being a state-sponsored agent and suggested that the author of the disputed content should be prepared to defend their statements.

Advocate Sibal clarified that Wikimedia does not regulate content, emphasizing that responsibility lies with users. He likened the platform to an encyclopedia, where information is backed by secondary sources.

The court remarked, "You (Wikipedia) may be the world's most powerful entity. You may be backed by the world's most powerful power. But we live in a country that is governed by the rule of law”. 

The court has scheduled the next hearing for this matter on October 16, 2024.

In the main defamation suit, the single-judge bench summoned the authorized representatives of Wikimedia Pvt Ltd. The court acknowledged that while Wikipedia has the right to express opinions, it must still justify its actions in court, recognizing the case as one of defamation.