Tamil Nadu withdraws 90 defamation cases targeting media outlets

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has decided to withdraw 90 criminal defamation cases registered against media organizations by the previous AIADMK government since 2012. This includes five cases filed against the Times of India and one against the Economic Times.
In its manifesto for the 2021 assembly election, DMK had promised to withdraw all such defamation cases filed against media houses.
In most cases, complaints for criminal defamation are filed on behalf of the government through the city public prosecutor by issuing a government order (GO). In some cases, the ministers or the persons aggrieved would initiate such proceeding in their personal capacity.
The government can’t withdraw cases filed by people in their personal capacity. However, cases filed on behalf of the state can be withdrawn by issuing a set of GOs cancelling the GOs sanctioning filing of criminal defamation complaints.
Now, in view of the order issued by CM M K Stalin, the state government would issue a set of GOs cancelling the older GOs.