10 March 2025
At a hearing held on 6 March 2025, the High Court of Madras, in the Tamil Nadu State, issued an interim order requiring the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to unblock the website of the Tamil magazine Vikatan, on condition of the removal of the cartoon that has caused the blockage, drawn by Hasif Khan.
At the hearing, Vikatan‘s lead counsel argued that the cartoon constituted a form of artistic expression protected by freedom of expression and journalistic freedom. He also argued that blocking Vikatan‘s entire website was a disproportionate measure that also infringed its economic rights.
This last argument was heard by the Madras High Court, whose decision came in response to a petition filed by Vikatan magazine challenging the Ministry’s order of 25 February 2025 to block the website. The magazine stated on its social media that it had removed the offending cartoon, and the website is now freely accessible. The court must now rule on whether the cartoon falls within the scope of freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Article 19(2) of the Constitution, or whether its blocking falls within the restrictions authorised by Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which allows the government ‘to block access to information to protect national security and friendly relations with foreign countries.’
A new hearing is scheduled for 21 March 2025.
Cartooning for Peace is closely following this case, which highlights the censorship practices carried out under the guise of information technology legislation in India.
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26 February 2025
On 15 February 2025, the Tamil news magazine Vikatan published a statement on social media denouncing the blocking of its website in part of India following the publication of a cartoon. The cartoon in question, by cartoonist Hasif Khan, shows the Indian Prime Minister in chains alongside US President Donald Trump. The cartoon is said to be a criticism of Narendra Modi’s diplomatic handling of the expulsions of Indian citizens by the United States (1). Some of the expelled citizens have testified that they were shackled before being placed on their return plane (2).
The cartoon was criticised by supporters of the ruling BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party). The party leader in the state of Tamil Nadu, K. Annamalai, said on social media that he had complained about the publication of the cartoon to the Press Council of India and the Ministry of Home Affairs and Commerce. He also accused the magazine of being ‘the mouthpiece of the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) party’, which is in power in the state of Tamil Nadu. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, a member of the DMK, condemned the blocking of the magazine’s website by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (3). The latter is reportedly taking advantage of Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which allows the government ‘to block access to information to protect national security and friendly relations with foreign countries.’
The author of the cartoon, press cartoonist Hasif Khan, claims to be a victim of trolling on social media by political parties. This is not the first time he has been subjected to this kind of attack following a cartoon targeting the country’s leaders.
On 16 February, the magazine received official notification from the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that the interdepartmental committee provided for under the Information Technology Act would investigate the blocking of the cartoon. In an interview, the Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, L. Murugan, said that legal action had been taken.
In reaction to this censorship of Vikatan magazine, journalists demonstrated on 18 February 2025 in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) to express their solidarity.
Following the blockade, Ananda Vikatan reacted on X: ‘For a century, Vikatan has always defended freedom of expression. We have always operated with freedom of expression at the forefront and we will continue to do so. If the website has indeed been blocked by the central government because of this cover image, we would like to make it clear that we will deal with the situation through legal channels.’
According to our information, the site remains blocked to this day.
Reporters with borders (RSF) points out that under Narendra Modi’s mandate, a raft of legislation has been implemented, giving the government excessive power to regulate the media, censor information and silence dissident voices.
In November 2023, Kak, President of Cartooning for Peace, already wrote: “Embarked on a mad dash for nationalism, based on fundamentalist Hindu currents, and for control of the major media, Narendra Modi and his henchmen have joined the family of outspoken censors. The country has fallen to the 161 place out of 180 in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, and cartoonists find themselves surrounded by repressive measures and hordes on social media, coordinated by a government that is well versed in the proper use of digital harassment.”
The blocking of Vikatan magazine comes in a country where online media remain the public’s main source of information. In recent years, a significant number of online media have been subject to restrictions, notably by having their Facebook pages or websites blocked at the request of the public authorities. Earlier this year, two Indian cartoonists were censored on the social network X-Twitter for cartoons accused of contravening information technology legislation. The Indian authorities also use Internet blackouts as a means of repression.
Cartooning for Peace expresses its concern about the Indian government’s tightening of online censorship, a situation that affects press cartoonists. Freedom of expression, recognised as a fundamental right protected by the Indian Constitution, is thus being jeopardised.
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