The Delhi High Court has imposed a cost of ₹10,000 on the Gujarat-based NGO 'Justice on Trial' for seeking repeated adjournments in its ₹10,000 crore defamation suit against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The lawsuit pertains to the BBC documentary titled 'India: The Modi Question', which the NGO claims defames the Indian judiciary and the Prime Minister. Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani expressed dissatisfaction with the plaintiff’s conduct, noting that the frequent requests for more time were stalling the judicial process in a high-value matter.
The suit alleges that the documentary casts aspersions on the Indian state and its institutions by revisiting the 2002 Gujarat riots, despite the Supreme Court having already cleared then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi of any conspiracy. The NGO argues that the broadcast was a deliberate attempt to malign India's reputation and create social disharmony. During the latest hearing, the plaintiff’s counsel sought another adjournment to file additional documents, a move that the Court deemed an unnecessary delay.
The BBC has consistently challenged the maintainability of the suit, arguing that it is barred by the Law of Limitation and that the NGO lacks the locus standi to sue on behalf of the entire nation or its leadership. The broadcaster maintains that the documentary was a piece of investigative journalism based on public records and varied perspectives. The High Court had previously issued summons to the BBC and its India office, but the proceedings have struggled to move toward the framing of issues due to the procedural delays highlighted in this latest order.
Justice Bhambhani emphasized that the "profligacy" of seeking adjournments in a suit of such high stakes (₹10,000 crore) is unacceptable. The Court directed the NGO to deposit the fine with the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee within a week. The Bench also noted that if the plaintiff fails to proceed with their arguments in the next hearing, the Court may consider dismissing the suit for non-prosecution.
This development reflects the Delhi High Court's broader push toward stricter case management and reducing the backlog of civil litigation. While the documentary continues to be a subject of intense political and legal debate, the Court has made it clear that procedural discipline must be maintained regardless of the profile of the parties involved. The matter is now scheduled for further hearing in early May, where the NGO is expected to finally conclude its preliminary submissions regarding the documentary's alleged defamatory content.