New Delhi, 10 July 2020: The Indian Journalists Union welcomes the Delhi High Court order vacating its 2017 interim order banning publication of any allegations or complaints of sexual harassment made against venture capitalist Mahesh Murthy, who is managing partner of a firm Seedfirm and Managing Director of a digital brand management firm Pinstorm, The case related to accounts of alleged harassment by Murthy, “almost all during professional interactions”, as reported by FactorDaily, during 2003 to 2016.
Murthy had filed a defamation case naming 18 respondents, including individuals, websites and media publications, including Deccan Chronicle, YourStory, and SheThePeople, seeking damages of Rs 2.5 crore.
The court observed that prima facie, it cannot be said that the said defendants have no case whatsoever or are misusing freedom of speech to tarnish/ defame the plaintiff. Noting that Murthy's defamation suit was “a bit of a hotchpotch”, and court said the “defendants have a right to exercise their right to freedom of speech”. While vacating the stay order against four victims, the judge said the four victims had “an unpleasant or perhaps more than unpleasant experience with the plaintiff. The said defendants and other defendants seek to place in public domain. Prima facie, it cannot be said that the said defendants have no case whatsoever or are misusing the freedom of speech to tarnish/defame the plaintiff...” Other than vacating the 2017 order, the Delhi High Court also lifted the gag order imposed on victims from narrating their stories.
In a statement IJU President and former Member of Press Council Geetartha Pathak and Secretary General and IFJ Vice President Sabina Inderjit said there can be no tolerance for sexual harassment of women and there must be public awareness of such cases, which are unfortunately on the rise across the country. .The court vacating the stay order, said the IJU, shall give confidence and hope to women, who are victims of sexual harassment, to share their unfortunate experiences and name and shame the perpetrators. The silence surrounding harassment needs to removed and there is need for stronger institutional mechanisms to investigate complaints, including adequate prosecution of perpetrators
