Defamation Lawsuit: Delhi Court Issues Non-Bailable Warrant Against Medha Patkar
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Synopsis
A Delhi court has issued a non-bailable warrant against activist Medha Patkar for failing to comply with a sentence in a defamation case initiated by Lt Governor V.K. Saxena. The court's decision was prompted by her repeated absences and non-compliance.
Key Takeaways
- The court issued a non-bailable warrant against Medha Patkar.
- Patkar failed to comply with previous court orders.
- She was warned that failure to comply could lead to a modified sentence.
- The defamation case dates back to 2001.
- Legal representatives for Saxena include several advocates.
New Delhi, April 23 (NationPress) A court in the capital has issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against social activist Medha Patkar for her failure to appear and comply with the sentence order related to a long-standing defamation case brought forth by Delhi Lt Governor V.K. Saxena.
The Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Vishal Singh of the Saket Court noted, “The intention of convict Medha Patkar is apparent; she is deliberately violating the Court order; she is avoiding to appear before the Court and also avoiding to accept the terms of the sentence passed against her.”
The court remarked that instead of complying with the order, Patkar was absent and had intentionally disregarded the order on sentence. “The Court is left with no option but to enforce the production of convict Medha Patkar through a coercive order. Issue NBW (non-bailable warrant) against convict Medha Patkar, through the office of the Commissioner of Police, Delhi Police, for the next date,” the judge stated.
ASJ Singh further warned that should the convict fail to adhere to the terms of the order by the next date, the court would be compelled to reconsider the lenient sentence and modify the order. The court deemed Patkar’s request for delaying the proceedings as frivolous and mischievous, aimed solely at deceiving the court.
On April 8, Patkar, a prominent figure in the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), was ordered to serve probation for a year, contingent upon the prior payment of Rs 1 lakh as compensation to the complainant, Saxena. The appellate court had altered the original ruling of the trial court, which sentenced Patkar to five months of simple imprisonment and mandated a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to Saxena for the damage caused to his reputation.
The defamation lawsuit dates back to 2001, initiated by Saxena, who was then the head of the Ahmedabad-based NGO National Council for Civil Liberties, against Patkar. One suit addressed alleged derogatory statements made by her during a television interview, while the other involved a contentious press statement.
This legal conflict stemmed from a prior suit filed by Medha Patkar in 2000, accusing Saxena of disseminating defamatory advertisements targeting her and the Narmada Bachao Andolan.
Legal representatives for Saxena included advocates Gajinder Kumar, Kiran Jai, Chandra Shekhar, Drishti, and Somya Arya.
