Saket Court Suspends Medha Patkar's Sentence in Defamation Case, Seeks Governor's Response

Delhi's Saket Court has issued a notice to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, seeking a reply on activist Medha Patkar's appeal in a defamation case. The court has also suspended Patkar's five-month sentence, granting her bail on a Rs 25,000 bond. The matter will be heard on September 4.

In a significant development, Delhi's Saket Court on Monday issued a notice to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, requesting his response to an appeal by activist Medha Patkar in a high-profile defamation case. Additional Sessions Judge Vishal mandated Saxena to reply, with Advocate Gajinder Kumar accepting the notice on Saxena's behalf.

The court has temporarily suspended the five-month sentence handed to Patkar, offering her bail upon furnishing a bond of Rs 25,000 along with one surety of the same amount. The court has set the next hearing date for September 4.

The defamation case saw its origins on July 1, when the court sentenced the Narmada Bachao Andolan activist to five months of simple imprisonment and ordered her to pay Rs 10 lakh in compensation to complainant VK Saksena. Considering Patkar's age, health, and duration of the sentence, the court deemed the punishment not severe.

Despite Patkar's defense producing no substantial evidence, the court rejected her plea for release based on probation of good conduct. Saksena's counsel had initially sought the maximum punishment for Patkar, but the court's decision leaned towards leniency, given her circumstances.

Convicted on May 24, Patkar expressed her intent to challenge the order at a higher court, emphasizing her ongoing commitment to tribal and Dalit communities. It was disclosed that Saksena does not intend to accept the compensation and plans to donate it to the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DLSA).

The case harks back to a defamation complaint filed by VK Saksena in 2001, marking a long-standing legal battle that continues to unfold.