The Supreme Court of India on Friday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to respond to a plea seeking the quashing of criminal proceedings against journalist Mamta Tripathi in a defamation case related to a published news article.
Court Questions Criminal Charges Against Journalist
A bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal expressed concern over the criminal charges filed against Tripathi, questioning how a private defamation complaint was treated as a cognisable offence by state authorities.
The court has now sought a response from the Uttar Pradesh government regarding the matter.
Interim Protection Extended
✔ The Supreme Court had earlier granted interim protection to Tripathi in October 2024, preventing any coercive action against her.
✔ On March 26, 2025, the court extended her protection for four weeks.
✔ In today’s hearing, the court ordered the interim protection to continue.
Background of the Case
The case stems from a news article published by Tripathi about the Uttar Pradesh administration. This led to multiple FIRs being filed against her, alleging defamation.
The latest court directive ensures that Tripathi remains protected while the legal proceedings continue, raising concerns about press freedom and the criminalization of defamation cases in India.