SWATANTER KUMAR Vs. INDIAN EXPRESS LTD.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The plaintiff has filed the abovementioned suit for permanent injunction and damages against six defendants, namely, (i) The Indian Express Ltd. through Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, (ii) Mr.Maneesh Chibber, Reporter, The Indian Express Ltd., (iii) Bennett, Coleman and Company Ltd., The Managing Director & The Editor-in-Chief of 'Times Now', (iv) Global Broadcast News (GBN) through Managing Director, Editor-in-Chief of 'CNN-IBN' and Turner International through Managing Director, (v) Ms.Intern through defendant No.2, and (vi) Union of India through the Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

(2.) The plaintiff has prayed for the relief of permanent injunction against the defendant Nos.1 to 5, its associates, sister concerns, its agents, representatives, correspondents, officers, employees and/or any other person, entity, in print or electronic media or via internet or otherwise from publishing, republishing, carrying out any further reports or articles or any other matter telecasts or repeat telecasts or programs, or debates or any discussion or reporting of any kind, directly or indirectly, pertaining to the purported complaint dated 30th November, 2013 and also prayed for a decree of damages against the said defendant Nos.1 to 5, jointly and severally, at least for an amount of Rs. 5 crores or for any higher amount and sought leave of this Court in this regard.

(3.) Admittedly, the plaintiff has been an eminent lawyer for 23 years before being elevated to the position of a Judge of this Court. The plaintiff then served as a Judge in the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh and thereafter returned as a Judge of this Court, before being elevated to the position of Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. The plaintiff was elevated to the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India on 18th December, 2009 and resigned on 19th December, 2012 to take over as the Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal, a position that he presently holds. The plaintiff has served as a Judge for over 23 years in his career.