The Delhi High Court has rejected a petition seeking to block an article published by The Print in November last year about the reported closure of Indian intelligence agency R&AW’s office in North America, Bar and Bench reported.

Headlined “Nijjar-Pannun effect: RAW downs shutters in North America 1st time since inception in 1968”, the article was authored by Praveen Swami, contributing editor to The Print.

According to Bar and Bench, the PIL was filed by advocate Raghav Awasthi, who claimed that he had received information from someone who still works at Indian High Commission and that the article puts the life of Indian diplomats and intelligence workers in danger. He sought a direction to stop media houses from publishing source based information regarding diplomats working for the intelligence services. 

However, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora rejected the contention. The bench said that the article, prima facie, does not compromise the careers of the officers and does not put the lives of their family members in any danger.

“It is an innocuous piece. Leave it at that. It does not identify anyone. I think you [Awasthi] have identified more people than that. Your source is correct or not, we have no idea,” the bench said, according to Bar and Bench. “The government of India has full power and authority to block any article which compromises national safety and security and it requires no advice of either the petitioner or this court... The Court should not easily transgress into this area. The impugned article, in the opinion of this court, prima facie, does not compromise the careers of the officers or puts the life of their family members in any danger.”

The court noted that “freedom of press is placed at a very high pedestal”.

In times of misinformation, you need news you can trust. We’ve got you covered. Subscribe to Newslaundry and power our work.

General elections are around the corner, and Newslaundry and The News Minute have ambitious plans together. Choose an election project you would like to support and power our journalism. Click here.