The court held that a mechanism exists for addressing grievances regarding defamatory media content under the Information Technology Rules, 2021.

6.News Tamil 24 X 7, Represented by its Editor, 145, 1-A, Rukmani Lakshmipathi Road, Egmore, Chennai - 600 008. ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, forbearing respondents 3 to 5 from telecasting or publishing any defamatory and derogatory interviews concerning the attack on one Dr. Balaji, a Medical Oncologist at the Kalaignar Centenary Super Specialty Hospital, Guindy, Chennai, or any other content maligning registered medical practitioners through television media or social media and consequently direct the respondents 1 to 3 to take appropriate action against such television channels and social media platforms based on the petitioner's complaint dated 16.11.2024.

For Petitioner : Mr.N.Sathish Babu For Respondent : Mr.K.Govindarajan, Deputy Solicitor General for R1 & R3.

Mr.S.Jeyasingh, Senior Panel Counsel for R2.

Mr.I.Suthakaran for R4.

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed for a direction, forbearing respondents 3 to 5 from telecasting or publishing any defamatory and derogatory interviews concerning the attack on one Dr. Balaji, a Medical Oncologist at the Kalaignar Centenary Super Specialty Hospital, Guindy, Chennai, or any other content maligning registered medical practitioners through television media or social media and consequently direct the respondents 1 to 3 to take appropriate action against such television channels and social media platforms based on the petitioner's complaint dated 16.11.2024.

2.When the matter was taken up for hearing, the learned Deputy Solicitor General submitted that if the petitioner submits a complaint before the grievance redressal mechanism of intermediary as per Rule

3(2) of the Information Technology (Intermediary guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021, the same will be considered and orders will be passed.

3.In view of the same, the petitioner is granted liberty to lodge a complaint before the grievance redressal mechanism of intermediary as per Rule 3(2) of the Information Technology (Intermediary guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021.

4.With this liberty to the petitioner, this writ petition is disposed of.

No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.