Delhi High Court On Thursday, editors were called out for adding an allegedly defamatory statement by Asian News International to the news agency’s Wikipedia page. Bar and Bench reported.

Justice Subramonium Prasad issued the direction after considering an earlier order passed by the division bench of the court, which allowed Wikipedia to issue summons to editors without revealing their identities publicly.

Wikipedia is a free, online, collaborative encyclopedia edited by volunteers. It is hosted by a non-profit organization based in the United States. Wikimedia Foundation.

Thursday’s summons were issued as part of a defamation case filed by ANI. wanted Removal of the description from the Wikipedia page. The statement states that the news agency has been criticized for serving as a “propaganda tool” of the current Union government.

During the hearing, the court threatened to order the Union government to block Wikipedia in India if the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation, which operates the website, did not provide detailed information about those responsible for adding the statement to ANI’s page.

On October 28, Wikimedia Foundation He told the court that he was willing to share basic subscriber information about his users who edited the page and also volunteered to send them subpoenas.

On Thursday, advocate Sidhant Kumar, representing ANI, told Prasad about the developments before the division bench. Bar and Bench.

The judge then ordered the Registry of the High Court to comply with the requirements of the conditions of consent recorded in it.

“Summons should be issued to defendants 2-4,” he ordered. “Communion may be made through all permissible methods, including email addresses to be provided by defendant 1 (Wikipedia).”

Wikipedia’s lawyer told the court that data on users would be presented in a sealed cover, meaning their identities would not be made public. According to the decision, Wikipedia will have to submit the subpoenas within four days. The matter is listed for further discussion on December 16.

While it’s unclear what details will be shared with the court in a closed case, basic subscriber information typically includes the user’s name, address, email address, phone number and other identifying information.

In July, the court summoned Wikipedia and ordered it to disclose information about its editors. However, ANI complained to the single-judge bench of Justice Navin Chawla that Wikipedia refused to comply with the order.

Chawla had strongly objected to Wikipedia’s behavior and issued a notice for contempt of court. He also ordered that a representative of Wikipedia be present in person in court on October 25.

This was challenged before a bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, after which Wikipedia told the court on October 28 that it was ready to share the information.

Also read: A case in the Delhi High Court could threaten Wikipedia’s operation in India