In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court has directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to lift the ban imposed on the website of the Tamil weekly magazine, Ananda Vikatan. The ban was enforced after the publication featured a cartoon depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former U.S. President Donald Trump, sparking controversy.
Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy, delivering the order, instructed the government to remove the website’s block while advising the magazine to temporarily take down the contentious page. The court observed that there was no substantial evidence suggesting that the cartoon compromised the nation’s sovereignty.
Background of the Ban
The controversial cartoon portrayed Prime Minister Modi in shackles and chains, seated beside Donald Trump. Following its publication, the website www.vikatan.com was blocked on February 25, 2025, with authorities citing concerns over the country’s sovereignty.
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Senior Advocate Vijay Narayan, representing Ananda Vikatan, contested the ban, arguing that the illustration did not threaten India’s sovereignty, integrity, or diplomatic ties with the U.S. He further contended that freedom of speech and expression, as guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution, could only be restricted under specific legal conditions, none of which applied in this case.
“It is common for political cartoons to critique leaders. However, imposing such a harsh action on a publication is highly unusual and raises concerns about press freedom,” Narayan submitted before the court.
He also emphasized that the Central government had not disclosed the complainant’s identity, reinforcing concerns about transparency in the decision-making process.
Government’s Justification for the Ban
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ARL Sundaresan defended the Centre’s action, arguing that the cartoon could negatively impact India’s foreign relations. Citing Article 19(2) of the Constitution and Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, Sundaresan stated that the government had the authority to impose reasonable restrictions on content to safeguard national interests.
“The law allows the government to block content that may harm India’s sovereignty, security, defense, or foreign relations. In this case, the cartoon was deemed offensive and inappropriate,” the ASG argued
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He further contended that lifting the ban would be equivalent to granting complete relief to the petitioners without a full hearing. However, he acknowledged that a committee appointed by the Ministry had reviewed the case and suggested that the website could be reinstated if the contentious cartoon was removed.
After reviewing the arguments, the Madras High Court determined that there was no compelling evidence to justify an outright website ban. The court recommended that the website remain accessible, provided that the contentious cartoon was temporarily removed until a final verdict was reached.
“Blocking an entire website for a single controversial cartoon is disproportionate. The matter needs further deliberation, and meanwhile, the website should remain operational without the disputed content,” the court observed.
Consequently, the court directed the government to file a counter-petition and scheduled the next hearing in two weeks.
Case Title: Ananda Vikatan Productions Private Ltd and Others v. Union of India
Case No: WP 7944 of 2025
