Delhi High Court orders Wikipedia to remove page on ongoing defamation case by ANI
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has directed Wikipedia to remove a page related to the ongoing defamation case filed against it by Asian News International (ANI). The order was issued by a Bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela during a hearing on Wednesday.
The Court expressed disapproval over the existence of the page titled "Asian News International vs. Wikimedia Foundation," stating, "First take down the Wiki page on this matter then we will hear." This ruling comes in response to an appeal from Wikipedia challenging a prior order that required a representative of the platform to appear personally in court.
The dispute arose after ANI accused Wikipedia of defamation, claiming the platform allowed users to make derogatory edits that labelled the news agency as a "propaganda tool" for the current Central government. Following the issuance of summons to Wikipedia on July 9, the High Court demanded that the platform disclose the identities of three individuals who made edits to ANI's Wikipedia page.
ANI later filed a contempt application against Wikipedia, asserting that it failed to comply with the Court's order. Wikipedia's counsel explained that their delayed appearance was due to the platform not being based in India. However, Justice Navin Chawla expressed strong concerns about Wikipedia's actions, ordering a representative to appear in court on October 25.
During earlier hearings, the Division Bench had rebuked Wikipedia for allowing the contentious page to be published and instructed the platform to seek instructions for its removal. The Court noted that Wikipedia's refusal to disclose the identities of the editors jeopardised its safe harbour protection under the Information Technology Act, thus compelling it to defend the lawsuit.
In today's hearing, the Court reiterated its concerns about the malicious potential of the page, questioning what actions Wikipedia would take if defamatory content were written about the bench itself. Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal, representing Wikipedia, stated that the platform operates under a self-regulation policy and acts on court orders. However, Justice Gedela challenged this stance, highlighting the platform's apparent inaction.
The Court has mandated that the page be removed within 36 hours, with the next hearing scheduled for October 21.
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Delhi govt launches Startup Yuva Festival, urges students to drive innovation
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi government on Friday launched the Delhi Startup Yuva Festival 2026 at Netaji Subhas University of Technology, with Education Minister Ashish Sood describing students as key drivers of innovation and calling for stronger links between campuses and markets.
Addressing students, mentors and industry representatives, Sood said universities are no longer limited to academic instruction and are increasingly emerging as centres of entrepreneurship and innovation.
He said the festival aims to encourage students to convert ideas developed on campuses into market-ready products.
Referring to India's startup ecosystem, the minister said the country had a limited presence in the sector before 2014, but has since witnessed rapid growth. India now has close to 125 unicorns and over 1.97 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups, making it the world's third-largest startup ecosystem, attributing the expansion to policy-driven reforms.
Sood said that nearly 45 per cent of Indian startups are led by women, calling entrepreneurship an effective tool for social and economic transformation. He said women-led enterprises have contributed to wider community development by generating employment and promoting inclusive growth.
The minister said the Delhi government, under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, is working to position the capital as a hub for student-led innovation.
He added that the Startup Yuva Festival would be developed into an annual platform bringing together educational institutions, mentors, investors and industry stakeholders.
According to the minister, over 75,000 students are currently participating in Delhi government-supported entrepreneurship programmes, with an annual growth rate of around 30 per cent.
More than 470 startups are being incubated across sectors such as healthcare, sustainability and manufacturing, he said, adding that early-stage startups are generating four to five jobs in their first year.
Sood also announced that the government is proposing the Delhi Startup Policy 2025, with a planned outlay of Rs 325 crore over five years. The policy aims to support 5,000 startups by 2035 and includes the creation of a Delhi Student Seed Fund to assist early-stage ventures.
Under the scheme, equity-free seed grants of Rs 10 lakh will be provided to six selected startups, while Rs 1 lakh each will be awarded to 100 student startups, he said.
The minister urged students to focus on meaningful innovation rather than risk avoidance, stating that successful enterprises could emerge from university campuses and hostels.
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