High Stakes Legal Battle: Medha Patkar vs. V K Saxena

The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena following activist Medha Patkar's request to examine a new witness in her defamation case against him. Originating from 2000, the long-standing legal dispute involves allegations of defamatory advertising published by Saxena's NGO and subsequent counterclaims by both parties.

The Delhi High Court, on Thursday, served a notice to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena regarding a plea from activist Medha Patkar. Patkar seeks to examine a fresh witness in her 23-year-old defamation case against Saxena.

This case stems from a 2000 lawsuit filed by the Narmada Bachao Andolan leader, accusing Saxena of issuing a defamatory advertisement while heading a Gujarat NGO. Counsel for Patkar urged the court to halt the proceedings as the trial court moved forward with recording Saxena's statement.

The case gained complexity with Saxena's counter-lawsuits against Patkar in 2001, leading to a convoluted legal entanglement. Justice Shalinder Kaur scheduled a hearing for May 20; meanwhile, the judicial impasse continues as both parties seek resolution.

(With inputs from agencies.)