Delhi HC Slams 'Derogatory' Remarks: Mahua Moitra to Delete Tweet, SC Garg to Scrub Podcast
Delhi High Court orders Mahua Moitra to delete tweet and SC Garg to remove podcast remarks in a defamation case filed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.
The Delhi High Court has stepped in to curb the use of "intemperate" language in a high-profile legal battle. In a civil defamation suit filed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued formal summons to Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and former Union Finance Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, recording their undertakings to remove offensive content.
The Court's Strong Disapproval
During the proceedings, the court did not mince words regarding the nature of the comments directed at the sitting MP. Justice Gedela expressed strong disapproval, particularly over the labels used by the defendants. The judge highlighted that calling someone a "blackmailer" is a grave characterization that cannot be taken lightly.
"If they [Dubey] said you [Garg] are a blackmailer, will you take that lightly? ... You can't use a word like blackmailer for any person," Justice Gedela remarked during the hearing.
The court further noted that while political criticism is a part of democratic discourse, using derogatory language crosses the line of acceptable commentary. The judge even suggested that the court might record its objection to such language in writing.
The Undertakings: Deletions and Removals
Following the court's sharp observations, advocate Samudra Sarangi, representing both Moitra and Garg, agreed to the following actions:
- Mahua Moitra: The TMC MP agreed to delete a tweet in which she described Nishikant Dubey as a "fake degree kism ke aadmi."
- Subhash Chandra Garg: The former Finance Secretary agreed to contact a podcaster to request the removal or blocking of a segment where he referred to Dubey as a "blackmailing kism ke aadmi."
The Defense's Argument
The legal conflict traces back to a podcast discussion involving Subhash Chandra Garg, which focused on India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures. According to advocate Sarangi, Garg's remarks were intended to provide historical context regarding a personal animus that has existed between him and Dubey since 2018.
Sarangi argued that the matter is essentially a clash of affidavits, stating that Dubey must prove why his version of events carries more weight at this interim stage.
The Political Angle and Educational Credentials
Regarding the dispute between the two MPs, the defense emphasized that the friction between Mahua Moitra and Nishikant Dubey is inherently political. While Moitra has agreed to delete the specific tweet to comply with the court's current direction, her legal counsel clarified that she reserves her legal right to independently challenge and question Dubey's educational qualifications in the future.
The Delhi High Court will now proceed to consider the substantive positions and written replies from all parties as the defamation case moves forward.