Court bars ‘The Wire’ to write further on Jay Shah to protect his ‘right to live with dignity’

New Delhi: An Ahmedabad court has barred ‘The Wire’ from publishing further reports related to Jay Shah’s business turnover in order to protect his ‘right to live with dignity’.

As per a report by Indian Express, Additional Senior Civil Judge, B K Dasondi of Ahmedabad rural court observed that the “injunction should be granted to applicant/plaintiff (Jay)” even though notice was not served upon The Wire, its editor, the writer of the article, and others.

The court called the order, barring The Wire, an immediate remedy to the applicant, which states: “…it is mandatory for this court to issue a notice of such application to the opposite party (The Wire). But in the present case, it appears that if an immediate remedy is not given to the applicant, there is a chance of publishing the news, for which the present plaintiff has filed the suit.”

The order that was passed on October 12, said “using and publishing or printing in any electronic, print, digital or any other media, or broadcast, telecast, print and publish… in any language on the basis of the article published in “The Wire” dated 8/10/17 either directly or indirectly on the subject matter with respect to the plaintiff (Jay) in any manner whatsoever”.

“This court is of the opinion that if the application (of Jay) is not allowed, then it may lead to prejudice with the rights and interest of the applicant,” court’s order further stated. It also directed Jay to “deliver to the opposite parties (The Wire) a copy of application”.

Senior counsel Nirupam Nanavati, who appeared for Jay, submitted, “If ad-interim injunction will not be granted, then the defendants may tarnish the reputation and dignity of the plaintiff.” He also submitted, according to the court’s order, “procedure of serving notice for the present application would result in delay, and such delay would defeat the purpose of granting injunction…”

The Wire, on October 8 had published a report that said, the business turnover of BJP President Amit Shah’s son increased by 16,000 times after Narendra Modi was elected as the Prime Minister.

On October 9, Jay Shah had also filed a criminal defamation case against The Wire. The hearing of which was kept on October 11, however, it was adjourned as the complainant’s advocate was not present in the court.