High Court Appeal: The News Minute Challenges Restriction Orders in Dharmasthala Cremation Case, Karnataka
In a significant development, the Karnataka High Court has disposed of a defamation suit filed by Spunklane Media Pvt Ltd (The News Minute) regarding the Dharmasthala temple burial case. The case, named Spunklane Media Pvt Ltd v Harshendra Kumar D & ors, was heard before Justice M Nagaprasanna on August 11, 2025.
The High Court's decision came after the trial court refused to extend its ex-parte interim gag order, which had earlier barred media from publishing allegedly defamatory content against Harshendra Kumar D and his family. The trial court's decision not to continue the restraining order on August 6, 2025, rendered the media portal’s petition in the High Court infructuous, leading to the High Court formally closing the case during the August 11 hearing.
The gag orders, which were initially issued in relation to the murder of 17-year-old Sowjanya, were seen as an attempt to restrict TNM's reporting on public interest matters. Spunklane Media had challenged these orders, arguing that they infringed upon their freedom to report.
This case is not directly related to the Dharmasthala temple burial case mentioned earlier. However, it does highlight the importance of freedom of reporting for media outlets like TNM. As of August 11, 2025, there are no active court restraints preventing TNM from reporting on this issue.
This development marks a significant victory for Spunklane Media Pvt Ltd and The News Minute in their ongoing battle to uphold the principles of freedom of the press. The case aims to challenge the use of gag orders to restrict reporting on specific issues, particularly those related to public interest and high-profile cases such as the Dharmasthala temple burial case.
[1] The News Minute
[2] The Times of India
[3] The Hindu
[4] Bar and Bench
- The News Minute's victory in the High Court brought a new wave in the ongoing discussion about politics involving war-and-conflicts, general news, and freedom of the press, as this case aims to challenge the use of gag orders to restrict reporting on specific issues.
- In light of the latest events, the Spunklane Media's case against the use of gag orders in high-profile cases such as the Dharmasthala temple burial case has sparked interest not only among media outlets like The News Minute but also in political circles and general news, further fuelling debates on the role and rights of the press in war-and-conflicts and other controversies.
