Adani gag order: Delhi court refuses to transfer Newslaundry, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta appeals

New Delhi: The Principal District and Sessions Judge at Delhi's Rohini Court on Tuesday said that the appeal by journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta and digital news platform Newslaundry against an order restraining them from reporting against industrialist Gautam Adani’s Adani Enterprises will be heard by district judge Sunil Chaudhary, not judge Ashish Aggarwal, Bar and Bench reported.

Judge Ashish Aggarwal had previously set aside the order partially, according to the report.

Principal District and Sessions Judge Gurvinder Pal Singh refused to transfer the matter to the judge who had set aside gag order in challenges filed by four other journalists on Thursday.

Judge Gurvinder Pal Singh said the cases would be heard on September 24 by judge Chaudhary.

However district judge Sunil Judge Chaudhary on Monday said that since Judge Aggarwal had already dealt with the case and passed orders, it would be appropriate for him to hear the case.

Following Judge Chaudhary's decision to transfer the case, the matters were reportedly listed before the Principal District and Sessions Judge today.

Appearing for Adani Enterprises Limited today, advocate Vijay Aggarwal opposed the transfer.

Following which, counsel appearing for Newslaundry and Thakurta said they had no objection to Judge Chaudhary hearing the case.

‘The extensive arguments having been heard by District Judge 4 (Judge Chaudhary), it would be expedient in he interest of justice that the adjudication of the appeal may be appropriately done as per law by the court of DJ to which the case has been assigned. Accordingly, the case be sent to District Judge 4,’ the Court reportedly ordered in Thakurta's case.