Supreme Court Defers Hearing on Defamation Plea Involving AAP Leaders

The Supreme Court has postponed the hearing for AAP leaders Kejriwal and Atishi's challenge to a defamation case. This involves alleged defamatory remarks linking BJP to voter name deletions. The court requires a thorough examination to determine if the complainant or the party qualifies as an 'aggrieved person.'

The Supreme Court has delayed the hearing until April 21 on a plea from AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, who are challenging a defamation case verdict concerning their purported comments on voter name deletions.

A bench made up of Justices M M Sundresh and N K Singh determined that the case requires extensive consideration, warranting the adjournment. Senior advocate Meenakshi Arora, representing the AAP leaders, requested the bench schedule the hearing on a non-miscellaneous day.

Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, for the Centre, argued that the defamation is linked to a political party's authorization to file the plea. The legal question, whether the party or an individual qualifies as an 'aggrieved person' under Section 199 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, remains unresolved.