Headlines
HC notice to newspapers on defamation plea of Priyanka Vadra's son
New Delhi, Feb 27
The Delhi High Court Friday
issued notices to British daily and two Indian newspapers on a
defamation suit filed against them by Raihan, son of Robert and
Priyanaka Vadra, for carrying a news article speculating that Congress
vice president Rahul Gandhi may adopt him to finalize a succession plan
in the Gandhi family.
Apart from the British newspaper, Justice
Manmohan also sought responses from a Rajasthan-based and a New
Delhi-based dailies on the defamation suit which contended the news
article was written with "malicious intent" to defame Raihan Vadra.
The
suit filed through his mother Priyanka Gandhi also refuted the
allegations made in the articles that Rahul Gandhi has been named as
Raihan's guardian in his school admission as "false, incorrect and
defamatory".
It said the articles were written with the sole
intent of causing embarrassment and harm to the family. The suit further
contended that none of the newspapers had attempted to verify any of
the facts before publishing the "offending articles".
Senior
counsel Gopal Subramanium, appearing for Raihan Vadra, argued that "the
defendants (newspapers) have published the impugned article with
reckless disregard for truth and with full knowledge that their contents
were false".
He also argued that the right to privacy and
dignity of his client, who is a minor, has been violated by the
articles. "The defendants have deliberately and intentionally put the
minor child in a position of emotional, psychological and physical
vulnerability," he added.
He further stated that the matter raises an important constitutional issue of protection of the rights of the minors.
The
British paper had carried the story in July last year, which was later
reproduced by the other two newspapers. Later the articles were removed
from the websites of the newspapers.
The court now listed the matter for further hearing May 11.