Defamation suit against local daily dismissed

SHILLONG: The Court of the Assistant District Judge, Shillong dismissed the defamation suit filed against a local daily by Garo Hills legislator Ismail R Marak.
In its judgement dated 11.03.2015 passed in Title (Defamation) No. 9(H) 2011 by the Court of the Assistant District Judge, Shillong, the defamation suit filed by Marak against the local daily, Meghalaya Times was dismissed.
The order passed by Assistant District Judge DR Kharbteng said, “The plaintiff has miserably failed to establish that his suit is maintainable and has also failed to prove any loss of reputation and standing as a result of the publication. As such, the plaintiff’s suit is hereby dismissed.”
It may be recalled that the plaintiff in his suit had demanded a compensation of Rs. 1 crore besides seeking unconditional apology from Meghalaya Times for the publication of the news item against him.
The news item was published on March 22, 2010 under the caption “State Minister concealed facts to EC” wherein it was reported that Marak had failed to declare that he held an office of profit while declaring his assets during the elections in 2008.  The office of profit was a petrol pump of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) at Pathargittim, which the legislator allegedly owned since 2005 – 06.