Thu Mar 06 06:58:15 UTC 2025: ## Madras High Court Orders Temporary Removal of Cartoon from Ananda Vikatan Website

**Chennai, March 6, 2025** – The Madras High Court issued an interim order today directing the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) to restore public access to the Ananda Vikatan website, http://www.vikatan.com, on the condition that a cartoon depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi shackled during a meeting with US President Donald Trump be temporarily removed.

The order follows a writ petition filed by Ananda Vikatan Productions Private Limited and Ananda Vikatan Publishers Private Limited challenging the I&B Ministry’s February 25th decision to block the website. The petitioners argued that the cartoon did not violate any provisions of Article 19(2) of the Constitution or Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which outline grounds for restricting freedom of speech. Their counsel, Senior counsel Vijay Narayan, contended that the cartoon did not harm India’s sovereignty, integrity, or relations with the United States. He criticized the Ministry’s refusal to disclose the complainant’s identity.

The Additional Solicitor General, AR.L. Sundaresan, countered that the cartoon could negatively impact India’s foreign relations, citing the ‘foreign relations’ clause in both Article 19(2) and Section 69A. He also argued that granting an interim stay would prejudge the case. He noted a Ministry committee had suggested removing the cartoon as a solution.

Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy ruled that blocking the entire website was excessive until the court determined whether the cartoon fell under protected free speech or harmed foreign relations. The court ordered the temporary removal of the cartoon, pending a final decision. The Ministry is expected to file a counter-affidavit by March 21st. The case highlights the ongoing debate between freedom of the press and the potential impact of media content on international relations.

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