Chennai, March 6 (NationPress) The Madras High Court has mandated the Centre to restore access to the Tamil magazine Ananda Vikatan's website. Additionally, the court instructed the magazine to eliminate the controversial cartoon from its site.

The website was blocked, reportedly due to a derogatory cartoon featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was published in Vikatan's online magazine, Vikatan Plus.

The management of Vikatan asserted that the Centre had restricted its website without any prior explanation, despite a formal request for clarification. Consequently, the magazine initiated legal proceedings in the Madras High Court to contest the decision.

Justice Parthasarathy presided over the case. During the proceedings, senior advocate Vijayanarayanan, representing Vikatan, contended that the blockage of the website was a means to curtail media freedom, rather than a matter of national sovereignty. After reviewing the arguments, the judge ruled in favor of Vikatan, directing the Centre to revoke the ban on the website.

The website was reportedly taken offline without prior notification following a complaint by BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai regarding the cartoon, released on February 10. The cartoon served as a satirical commentary on PM Modi's perceived silence concerning the treatment of Indian nationals deported from the US under the Trump administration.

Reports indicate that deportees were transported in military aircraft while being shackled, a point the cartoon aimed to underscore.

After the publication, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) directed internet service providers to block Vikatan's website. This order was issued via the Department of Telecommunications under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which permits the government to restrict online content for reasons of sovereignty, national security, public order, or foreign relations. As orders under Section 69A are confidential, neither Vikatan nor the public received a copy of the directive.

The cartoon ignited controversy on social media, eventually drawing attention from the Centre due to K. Annamalai's complaint. He accused Vikatan of acting as a mouthpiece for the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu. However, the Centre did not publicly confirm or deny the website's blockage.

Sources familiar with the situation noted that the MIB issued the blocking order, which was subsequently communicated to internet service providers and telecom operators.

As a result, Vikatan's website became inaccessible across most networks in India.

In a statement following the blockage, Vikatan reaffirmed its dedication to journalistic integrity and press freedom: “For over a century, Vikatan has consistently championed freedom of expression. We have always upheld the principle of free speech and will continue to do so.”

Founded over a century ago, Ananda Vikatan is a prominent Tamil magazine recognized for its political and entertainment coverage. The publication also features an online subscription-based e-magazine, Vikatan Plus, where the controversial cartoon was initially published.

With the Madras High Court's ruling, the Centre has been instructed to lift the ban on Vikatan's website. However, the magazine is required to comply with the directive to remove the cartoon that instigated the controversy.