New Delhi, May 27 (H.S.): The Sessions Court of Saket in Delhi has adjourned the hearing on the case of a one lakh rupee fine imposed on Medha Patkar, the leader of the Narmada Bachao Andolan, who was convicted in a criminal defamation case filed by Delhi's Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena. Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh has ordered the next hearing of the case to be held on June 9. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court has also adjourned the hearing on Medha Patkar's petition on Tuesday.

In fact, on April 23, the Sessions Court of Saket issued a non-bailable warrant against Medha Patkar for failing to pay the one lakh rupee fine. V.K. Saxena had filed a criminal defamation case against Medha Patkar in an Ahmedabad court in 2001.

During the hearing, the court was informed that a challenge had been made in the Delhi High Court against the order of the Sessions Court, which had currently stayed the sentence, and the High Court was set to hear the case on the same day. Following this, the court ordered the next hearing of the case to be held on June 9.

The Delhi High Court has also adjourned the hearing on Medha Patkar's petition challenging the order of the Sessions Court. Justice Shalinder Kaur's bench has ordered the hearing to take place on July 14 and 15.

Earlier, on April 25, the court granted bail to Medha Patkar. In fact, on April 23, the Sessions Court of Saket had issued a non-bailable warrant against Medha Patkar for failing to pay the one lakh rupee fine. During the hearing on April 23, the lawyer representing V.K. Saxena stated that Medha Patkar had neither paid the fine amount nor appeared in court. Following that, the court ordered the issuance of a non-bailable warrant against Medha Patkar.

On April 8, the sessions court granted relief to Medha Patkar, who was convicted in a criminal defamation case filed by Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, ordering her to remain on probation for one year. This means that instead of serving a three-month jail sentence imposed by the magistrate court, Medha Patkar will have to stay on probation for one year. The court allowed her to remain on probation on the condition of a good conduct undertaking.

The judicial magistrate had sentenced Medha Patkar on July 1, 2024. The judicial magistrate's court had stated that the maximum punishment in this case is two years, but considering Medha Patkar's health, a sentence of five months was given.

Medha Patkar had stated in her defense in court that VK Saxena has been issuing false and defamatory statements since 2000. Patkar mentioned that VK Saxena had physically attacked her in 2002, after which she had filed an FIR in Ahmedabad. Medha claimed in court that VK Saxena was working for corporate interests and was against the demands of those opposing the Sardar Sarovar Project.

VK Saxena filed a criminal defamation case against Medha Patkar in Ahmedabad court in 2001. The trial court in Gujarat took cognizance of this matter. Later, in 2003, the Supreme Court transferred the hearing of this case from Gujarat to Saket Court in Delhi. Medha Patkar declared herself innocent in 2011 and stated that she would face trial. At the time VK Saxena filed the case in Ahmedabad, he was the chairman of the National Council for Civil Liberties.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar