HC orders two YouTubers to delete 'defamatory' videos against BJP minister Girish Mahajan
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court has ordered deletion of six videos uploaded by two YouTubers against Maharashtra Water Resources Minister and senior BJP leader Girish Mahajan, noting that they were "prima facie defamatory".
A bench of Justice Arif Doctor in its order passed on May 8 said after having watched the videos, a case for grant of interim relief has been made out.
"The statements made by defendants in the videos as discerned from the transcripts are in my prima facie view per se defamatory," the HC said.
The court directed the defendants to immediately take down/delete the six videos uploaded by them on YouTube.
It also restrained them from uploading any more such videos or posts that would be defamatory against Mahajan.
The bench posted the matter for further hearing on June 20.
Mahajan had filed a defamation suit against one Anil Thatte and one more person claiming that they had made false, reckless and unsubstantiated allegations against him.
In an interim application, Mahajan sought the high court to direct the duo to delete the six videos uploaded on their YouTube channel that made defamatory remarks against him.
Five of these were published on the YouTube channel "Anil Gaganbhedi Thatte", run by YouTuber and journalist Anil Thatte, while one appeared on "Mudda Bharat Ka", operated by one Shyam Giri.
Mahajan's counsel Ravi Kadam said false statements and insinuations are made in the videos regarding Mahajan's conduct with a lady IAS officer.
Kadam said all these statements and insinuations were completely reckless, false and per se defamatory.
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Bill to set up single higher education regulator likely to be tabled in Parliament next week
New Delhi (PTI): A Bill which seeks to set up a single regulator for institutions of higher education is required to facilitate universities and other higher educational institutes become independent and self-governing, officials said.
The Bill is likely to be introduced in Parliament next week after it got the Union Cabinet's nod on Friday.
The proposed legislation, which was earlier christened the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, has now been named Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill.
A single higher education regulator, which was proposed in the new National Education Policy (NEP), looks to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
"The Bill proposes to set up a Higher Education Commission of India to facilitate universities and other higher educational institutes become independent and self-governing institutions and to promote excellence through a robust and transparent system of accreditation and autonomy. It is likely to be introduced (in Parliament) in the coming week," an official said.
While the UGC presently oversees non-technical higher education in the country, the AICTE oversees technical education, while the NCTE is the regulatory body for teachers' education.
The Commission is proposed to be set up as a single higher education regulator, but medical and law colleges will not be brought under its ambit.
It is proposed to have three major roles -- regulation, accreditation and setting professional standards, officials said.
Funding, which is seen as the fourth vertical, is not proposed to be under the regulator so far. The autonomy for funding is proposed to be with the administrative ministry, they said.
