The Delhi High Court has issued notice to MP Mahua Moitra in Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai’s appeal challenging a Saket Court’s March order directing the parties not to publicise proceedings in their ongoing custody dispute over a pet Rottweiler, Henry.
Appearing for Dehadrai, Senior Advocate Sanjoy Ghose argued that the trial court’s order curtailed his client’s freedom of speech, particularly since the suit sought only shared custody of the animal and contained no prayer for privacy or restraint on publicity. He relied on Ajay Kumar v. Union of India to contend that such a gag order could not be sustained.
Justice Manoj Jain observed that the trial court’s direction was “not an injunction under Order XXXIX CPC” but only a restraint against publicity, and suggested that the parties attempt to amicably resolve the matter. The Court also questioned why Dehadrai had withdrawn his application if the cited precedent squarely applied.