The Madras High Court today passed an interim order directing the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to lift its ban on Vikatan’s website. However, the court said this is on the condition that Vikatan temporarily removes its cartoon of Narendra Modi that had precipitated the ban.
According to Bar and Bench, the court said it would “examine whether the caricature in question falls under artistic and journalistic freedom or whether it is covered under Section 69A of the IT Act”.
Vikatan issued a statement on X saying the cartoon “has been removed in compliance with the order of the Hon’ble Madras High Court…subject to further adjudication”.
16.02.2025 விகடன் பிளஸ் இதழின் (10.02.2025 அன்று வெளியான) அட்டையாக வெளியான கார்ட்டூன், WP 7944 of 2025 என்ற வழக்கில் 06-03-2025 அன்று மாண்பமை சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம் தந்த உத்தரவின்படி நீக்கப்படுகிறது.
— விகடன் (@vikatan) March 6, 2025
இந்த விவகாரத்தில், குறிப்பிட்ட அந்த கார்ட்டூன் அரசியல் சாசனத்தின் பிரிவு… pic.twitter.com/SjHmQZFi6D
During today’s hearing, Vikatan’s lawyers said the cartoon did not impact India’s sovereignty or integrity, or its friendly relations with the United States – all arguments that had been raised by Additional Solicitor General ARL Sundaresan who was appearing for the central government.
The story so far
The Tamil media house’s website has been blocked since the evening of February 15, five days after it published a cartoon criticising Modi’s meeting with President Donald Trump. The cartoon depicted Modi in shackles sitting next to Trump in the context of Indians being handcuffed while being deported from the United States.
The cartoon appeared in the online edition of Vikatan, not its print magazine.
Shortly before the block, the state BJP said it had filed complaints against Vikatan as the cartoon “cast a shadow on the diplomatic progress” made by Modi in America.
Vikatan said it was not sent a notice about its website being blocked. During an “inquiry” on February 20, it provided the I&B ministry with a “detailed explanation that the specific cartoon was an expression of freedom of speech”.
According to Vikatan, on February 25, “the final order from the central government’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry regarding this matter was sent to Vikatan. In response, Vikatan is now consulting legal experts to determine appropriate next steps.”
With journalism and journalists under threat, we need your help more than ever. Click here to subscribe to Newslaundry, and join the tribe that pays to keep news free.
Newslaundry is a reader-supported, ad-free, independent news outlet based out of New Delhi. Support their journalism, here.
