Chandigarh, September 2026 : A Chandigarh court has restrained Justice Ranjit Singh (retired), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia and Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira from publishing, circulating or posting any unverified defamatory content on social media or through any other medium concerning an alleged demand for a bribe that could harm the reputation or interests of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s wife, Gurpreet Kaur.
The order was passed by Civil Judge (Junior Division) Dr Parikshit on a suit filed by Gurpreet Kaur seeking damages and an injunction against the respondents. The court issued notices to the defendants on both the suit and the injunction application, fixing September 30 for further proceedings.
Seeking an ex-parte injunction, counsel for Gurpreet Kaur argued that the plaintiff had established a strong prima facie case and that the balance of convenience was in her favour. The lawyer submitted that failure to grant interim protection could cause irreparable harm to the plaintiff’s reputation, which could not be adequately compensated through monetary damages.
In its order, the court observed that the plaintiff had succeeded in establishing a prima facie case at this stage of the proceedings. It noted that posts, videos and photographs shared by the defendants concerning Gurpreet Kaur did not appear to be supported by any substantial evidence.
The court further observed that the respondents had allegedly relied on unverified material whose authenticity had not been established. This was considered particularly significant because a person who was allegedly claimed to have acted as an intermediary between the plaintiff and others had himself denied the claim.
The court noted that the disputed posts had already attracted considerable public attention. It also emphasised that reputation forms an integral part of an individual’s dignity and that a balance must be maintained between the right to freedom of expression and the right to protect one’s reputation.
“If the defendants’ freedom of expression is not restrained to prevent defamation of the plaintiff, she would suffer irreparable injury,” the court observed.
The court also noted that Gurpreet Kaur, as the wife of a sitting Chief Minister, is a prominent public figure. However, it made clear that public status does not by itself remove the need for protection against potentially defamatory and unverified allegations.
Accordingly, the court directed the defendants, until further orders, not to publish, circulate or post any unverified defamatory content concerning the plaintiff in relation to the allegations.
However, the court declined at this stage to order the removal or deletion of the posts, videos and photographs referred to in the suit. It said the defendants should first be given an opportunity to present their case.
The court observed that ordering removal of the material without hearing the respondents could effectively amount to granting the principal relief sought in the suit at the initial stage itself, which would not be appropriate.
The matter will now come up for further consideration on September 30, when the respondents are expected to respond to the allegations and the plaintiff’s plea for continued legal protection.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
