JUDGMENT

J. D. Jain, J. - On 4th November, 1981 the New Delhi Edition of "The Indian Express", a leading newspaper published from various important stations in the country including New Delhi (in short the 'Newspaper') carried a news item titled 'Cong-I leader blocks checking of foodstuff', (Annexure-'B'). To be concise the newspaper reported that officials of Delhi Administrator led by an SDM, Miss Khiangte, an IAS Officer, had gone to the Laxmibai Nagar Market on the evening of Tuesday, the 3rd November, 1981, for a surprise checking of foodstuff. The team of officials from the Food and civil Supplies Department had already collected a few samples of edible oil in glass jars from a shop when the respondent Shri Arjun Das reportedly appeared on the scene. He asked them not to collect samples and he allegedly snatched a few jars and threw them. The official leading the team then went to the Vinay Nagar Police Station and lodged a complaint to that effect (Annexure-'B').

2. On the next following day viz. 5.11.1981 the newspaper published further details of the aforesaid incident as per inspection note submitted by Miss Khiangte to the Delhi Administration on 4.11.1981. The news item