Medha Patkar Receives Court Relief as Jail Term is Waived and Fine Reduced
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Synopsis
Medha Patkar, a prominent social activist, received a favorable ruling from a Delhi court, which transformed her jail sentence into probation and slashed her fine significantly. This decision acknowledges her good conduct and contributions to society.
Key Takeaways
- Medha Patkar's jail term was waived and replaced with probation.
- The fine was reduced from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 lakh.
- The court recognized her clean history and social contributions.
- Patkar appeared via video conferencing for the hearing.
- The defamation case dates back to 2001, initiated by V.K. Saxena.
New Delhi, April 8 (NationPress) Social activist Medha Patkar was granted significant relief on Tuesday by a Delhi court in a long-standing defamation case initiated by Delhi Lt Governor V.K. Saxena. The court has converted her jail sentence into a probation period of one year and has reduced the imposed fine from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 lakh.
The Saket court has allowed Patkar's release on probation due to her exemplary conduct, acknowledging her clean history and dedication to social initiatives.
Patkar participated in the court proceedings through video conferencing.
Previously, the court had sentenced her to five months of simple imprisonment and levied a Rs 10 lakh fine. However, considering her age, clean record, and the non-serious nature of the offence, the punishment was reconsidered.
Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh remarked that Patkar is a renowned social activist with numerous accolades, and the offence did not warrant a prison sentence.
"The court decides to release her for good conduct. She is being released on probation of one year," the judge stated.
On April 2, the court had dismissed Patkar’s appeal against her conviction in the defamation case.
Last year, on July 1, Metropolitan Magistrate Raghav Sharma sentenced her to five months in jail and mandated her to pay Rs 10 lakh as compensation to Saxena. Advocate Gajinder Kumar, along with advocates Kiran Jai, Chandra Shekhar, Drishti, and Somya Arya, represented Saxena in the case.
The origins of the defamation case trace back to 2001, when Saxena—then the head of the Ahmedabad-based NGO National Council for Civil Liberties—filed two suits against Patkar. One suit was related to remarks she allegedly made during a television interview, while the other was linked to a press statement.
This legal battle stemmed from an earlier suit filed by Patkar in 2000, where she accused Saxena of disseminating defamatory advertisements targeting her and the Narmada Bachao Andolan.
