Judiciary – Delhi High Court Orders Removal of Posts Over London Badminton Claims
Judiciary – The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its verdict on a petition filed by the Badminton Association of India (BAI), which has sought legal action against online posts and digital publications accused of spreading misleading information regarding an alleged badminton event involving judges, Union ministers and senior government officials in London.
Court Directs Immediate Removal of Disputed Content
While keeping its final decision pending, Justice Tejas Karia issued interim directions to social media intermediaries and digital platforms. The Court instructed them to remove the disputed material, provide details of users responsible for uploading and circulating the content, and cooperate with further legal proceedings. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) was also directed to examine the issue and take steps as permitted under the law.
The matter was argued on behalf of the petitioner by Senior Advocate Apoorv Kurup and Advocate Rajat Nair. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the Union Government along with Central Government Standing Counsel Ashish Dixit.
Allegations Linked to London Tournament
According to submissions made before the Court, a large-scale misinformation campaign was allegedly conducted through social media platforms. The posts claimed that nearly 75 judges, including senior members of the judiciary, along with Union ministers, had travelled to London at public expense to participate in a badminton competition.
BAI argued that the allegations were entirely incorrect and were designed to damage the reputation and credibility of the judiciary. The association stated that the controversy centered around the 2nd International Bar & Bench Badminton Championship held in London on June 7, 2026.
Images From Delhi Event Allegedly Misused
The petition stated that photographs being circulated online did not belong to the London tournament. Instead, they were taken during the All India Judges’ Badminton Championship held at Thyagaraj Stadium in New Delhi on November 29, 2025.
According to BAI, these images were falsely presented as evidence of the London event, creating a misleading narrative that gained traction across multiple social media platforms. The association further noted that the claims continued to spread even after they had been publicly debunked by the PIB Fact Check Unit.
Government Clarifies Facts Before Court
During the hearing, the Union Government placed on record a statement delivered by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. The statement clarified that photographs circulating online showing the Chief Justice of India, Justice Vikram Nath, along with Union Ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Kiren Rijiju playing badminton in London were misleading.
The government explained that the images were actually taken during a national-level badminton event in New Delhi attended by judges and lawyers from various High Courts. On the opening day of that tournament, a ceremonial exhibition match was played by the Chief Justice of India and the two ministers.
No Participation in London Tournament, Says Centre
The statement further clarified that the Chief Justice of India did not participate in any sporting event or badminton tournament in London. It noted that his visit to the United Kingdom was official in nature and included meetings with judicial counterparts, participation in official functions and engagements related to arbitration law.
The Centre also informed the Court that neither Arjun Ram Meghwal nor Kiren Rijiju travelled to London during the period in question. Officials described as completely false the allegations that the Law Minister had travelled overseas along with dozens of judges.
Petition Seeks Action Against Originators
According to the government, only two judges from the Allahabad High Court visited London in their personal capacity. Authorities argued that unrelated photographs from a sporting event in Delhi were being used to create false narratives targeting the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice of India and members of the higher judiciary.
The petition has requested directions for the government to use provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, to identify the originators of the alleged fake news and initiate legal proceedings against those responsible for creating and distributing the content.
Following arguments from both sides, the High Court reserved its order while directing the removal of the disputed posts, disclosure of subscriber information by intermediaries and a detailed examination of the matter by MeitY.