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In Ponda, Goa, a Sanatan Sanstha’s defamation suit against weekly Goan Observer for an article entitled ‘Protecting Hinduism-Sanatan Sanstha’ that was published in the week of June 28-July 4, 2008, was dismissed by a Senior Civil Judge.
Notably, the same Sanstha have been accused of the murders of some popular journalists who wrote against Hinduism namely Gauri Lankesh being very recent, rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare.
The plaintiff alleged that the said article “created suspicion in the minds of the followers and has shaken the faith of the seekers. That it has insulted the work done by thousands of selfless seekers”. Therefore, the Sanstha had filed a civil suit against owner, publisher, editor and the printer of weekly Goan Observer claiming Rs. 1 crore as the cost for damages with 12 per cent interest per annum from the date of filing the suit till the date of payment of cost.
Defendants contended that the article was based on a book published by the Sanstha called “Swarakshan Prashikshan” and the book contained pictures of self-defence training with the use of trishul and guns. The defendants denied that the article has defamed the plaintiffs or it had created suspicion in the minds of the followers, the article was mere representation of facts. They sought the suit to be dismissed.
The court noted that Virendra Marathe, Managing Trustee of Sanatan Sanstha, had testified that the said pictures published in the article of people with trishuls and guns training in self-defence have actually been taken from the Sanstha’s book. After looking at all the relevant facts, Senior Civil Judge Anil Scaria stated that:“Journalist should be seen as an ordinary man and it is the duty of journalist to bring the facts to the notice of the public and commenting on it will not amount to defamation.”
The court made an observation against the Sanstha and the material published by them:“Before concluding it is necessary to mention that the publications of the plaintiff are of such nature that it creates apprehension in the minds of people. If such publications are avoided apprehension would not arise. Some of the pictures in the magazine are in bad taste. If such pictures are avoided, litigation may not arise.” Thus, this suit was dismissed.
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