The Delhi High Court has ordered the Wikimedia Foundation, which operates Wikipedia, to remove alleged defamatory content from its page about news agency Asian News International (ANI). The directive was issued on Wednesday during a hearing of an interim application filed by ANI, according to a new agency.

Justice Subramonium Prasad, presiding over the case, allowed certain requests made by ANI, which sought the removal of the allegedly defamatory material and an injunction preventing Wikipedia’s users and administrators from publishing further defamatory content against the agency.

The case stems from an earlier hearing in December 2024, when the court reserved its decision on ANI’s plea. The court noted that it would review news articles cited as sources for the alleged defamatory edits on ANI’s Wikipedia page. However, it also questioned whether such a detailed examination was appropriate at the interim stage.

“This interpretation relies on the editor’s understanding of the sources. If this understanding is so misleading that it completely misrepresents the original meaning, the person can be restrained. However, the question remains—should the court delve deeper at this stage to determine if the content could be interpreted differently?” the court observed.

ANI’s Wikipedia page currently includes a section stating that the agency has been accused of acting as a propaganda tool for the central government, disseminating content from dubious news sources, and misreporting events.

The dispute escalated in July 2024, when the High Court directed Wikipedia to disclose the identities of three individuals who made the alleged defamatory edits. In September 2024, the court issued a contempt notice against Wikipedia for failing to comply, leading to an appeal by Wikimedia Foundation before a Division Bench. A subsequent agreement between ANI and Wikipedia allowed the platform to notify the users in question while maintaining their anonymity.

Meanwhile, the Wikimedia Foundation has challenged the High Court’s order in the Supreme Court, which is set to hear the case on April 4.