‘Any public person should be thick skinned’ – Delhi High Court advises Gautam Gambhir on defamation suit against Punjab Kesari

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday, May 17, remarked that even though certain language used by the Punjab Kesari were improper, a public person must be ‘thick skinned’. The statements come after former India cricketer and BJP Member of Parliament (MP) Gautam Gambhir filed a defamation suit before the High Court seeking damages worth INR 2 crores.

For the unversed, Punjab Kesari editor Aditya Chopra and correspondents Amit Kumar and Imran Khan were sued by the former cricketer on accounts of misusing journalistic freedom and publishing many fake and libellous articles. As per one of the reports, the newspaper compared the former cricketer with the Indian mythical demon, 'Bhasmasur'.

Justice Chandra Dhari Singh of the Delhi High Court did not pass any injunction order against the newspaper and further did not grant Gambhir’s request to take down one of the reports using improper language.

"Any public person should be thick-skinned. With this social media and all even judges have to be thick-skinned. If you read all the articles, it is my prima facie opinion that the reporter is behind this person. Some of the words and sentences that he has used is not proper for your paper," remarked the Delhi HC.

You are a public servant, an elected person, you need not be so sensitive: Delhi High Court

Notably, Gambhir has argued that the reports created a false and deeply defamatory narrative regarding his work. The former cricketer also highlighted that the newspaper states that ‘Gambhir is not interested in serving the people of my constituency and is busy with the IPL’. 

However, Justice Singh responded to the pointers mentioned by Gambhir and stated that as a public servant, he must not be ‘so sensitive’. 

"If the reporter has gone to the area and found such comments being made then... You are a public servant, an elected person, you need not be so sensitive," he added.

Gambhir has asked for an unconditional apology which must be published across all newspapers circulated by Punjab Kesari. However, the Delhi HC has not fully acknowledged the case, and it remains to be seen what transpires.