NEW DELHI, March 18 (Reuters) - The Wikimedia Foundation, which operates Wikipedia, has petitioned India's Supreme Court to nullify an order instructing the online encyclopedia to remove a page detailing its legal dispute with a domestic news agency.
Wikimedia argued in court that complying with the directive would stifle free speech.
Last year, Indian news agency ANI filed a defamation lawsuit against Wikimedia in the Delhi High Court concerning the portrayal of the news agency on the platform, overseen by a community of volunteer editors. ANI claimed the Wikipedia page described it as a government "propaganda tool," removing edits representing its alleged unbiased stance.
While the lawsuit is ongoing, the high court ruled in October to take down another Wikipedia page linked to the legal conflict, citing "interference in court proceedings."
In a recent legal maneuver challenging this decision, Wikimedia urged India's Supreme Court to dismiss the ruling, citing infringement on its right to "host a page on court proceedings."
This challenge was submitted on January 15, verified by Reuters on Tuesday. Wikimedia argued the "selective and permanent takedown" hampers free speech and impedes access to knowledge.
During the initial hearing on Monday, judges acknowledged the matter as a "freedom of media" issue, prompting ANI to prepare a written response to the legal challenge.
ANI's lawyer Sidhant Kumar refrained from commenting on Wikimedia's challenge due to its pending status before the Supreme Court. Wikimedia did not offer a comment upon request.
Reuters, owning a 26% stake in ANI, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The news agency has clarified previously that it has no involvement in ANI's operational activities.
Wikimedia is the second major tech company in recent years to contest content removal orders in India. Social media platform Twitter, now rebranded as X, is also contesting orders from the central government to block certain posts related to farmer protests in 2021.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to convene next on April 4 to further review the Wikimedia case.