Defamation case: HC asks Patkar to move sessions court

New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Monday asked activist Medha Patkar to move the sessions court to seek permission for appearing virtually in relation to her sentencing in a defamation case involving LG V K Saxena. The single judge bench of Justice Shalinder Kaur said the plea was premature and posted the matter for hearing on May 19.
Patkar's counsel submitted before the high court that after dismissing her appeal against the magisterial court's decision, the sessions court had no authority to pass an order on the sentence in the case and seek her physical presence.
The 70-year-old activist was challenging the April 2 decision of the sessions court which upheld her conviction in the case given by a magisterial court. Patkar also moved against the direction to her to appear in person on April 8 for arguments and the order on the sentence.
The magisterial court on July 1, 2024 sentenced her to five months of simple imprisonment and slapped a Rs 10 lakh fine after finding her guilty of the offence of defamation.
On April 2, an additional sessions judge court dismissed the activist's appeal against her conviction last year in a defamation case filed by Saxena in 2000, observing that the contents of the press note issued by her were false and defamatory to him. TNN