Right to know

The Supreme Court of India (SC) order on May 9, 2025, setting aside the Delhi High Court order directing the Wikimedia Foundation to take down a page on its Wikipedia Internet encyclopaedia, is notable for several reasons.

The court observed that “every important issue needs to be vigorously debated by the people and the press, even if the issue of debate is sub judice before a court.”

The order is also clear that the right to know is a basic right under Articles 19(1)(a) and 21, casting the case against the Foundation in a light that may have eluded the High Court.

While discussing the presumption of contempt, Justices Oka and Bhuyan noted that the right to know controls the people’s ability to participate in public development and to access justice.