The Delhi High Court has rejected social activist Medha Patkar’s request to delay furnishing a probation bond. This bond was required after she was sentenced in a defamation case filed by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena.
HC Asks Patkar to Approach Trial Court
Justice Shalinder Kaur directed Patkar to approach the trial court. The court had earlier ordered her release on probation of good conduct for one year, but made it conditional upon furnishing a bond. The matter is scheduled to be heard in the trial court on Tuesday.
When Patkar’s counsel asked for a delay in executing the order, the High Court refused. Justice Kaur questioned why the plea came at the last moment when the trial court hearing was already scheduled. The judge also pointed out that the appeal court had already sentenced Patkar and asked her to withdraw her existing petition and file a new one.
Legal Dispute Over Defamation Case
Patkar is challenging her conviction in a 2001 defamation case filed by VK Saxena. The case stems from a press note published in 2000. At the time, Saxena was President of the National Council of Civil Liberties (NCCL), a group supporting Gujarat’s Sardar Sarovar Project. Patkar, who led the Narmada Bachao Andolan opposing the project, allegedly made defamatory statements against Saxena.
Saxena denied her claims, which included allegations that he supported and funded her movement. He accused her of spreading false information to damage his reputation.
Court Findings and Sentencing
In July 2024, a magistrate court at Saket convicted Patkar under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code for defamation. The court sentenced her to five months of simple imprisonment and fined her ₹10 lakh. She was also ordered to pay ₹10 lakh as compensation to Saxena.
Patkar appealed, but the Saket District Court dismissed her appeal in March 2025. It upheld the original ruling, stating that the evidence proved Patkar’s press note was defamatory beyond reasonable doubt.
The court also noted that a news portal’s translation of the press note into Gujarati did not change the defamatory nature of the content. It found that the statements were false and aimed at damaging Saxena’s reputation.
Request for VC Appearance and Further Proceedings
Patkar’s lawyer argued that the sessions judge had no authority to pass the release-on-probation order after delivering the judgment. They requested more time and asked the High Court to allow her to appear through video conferencing. Justice Kaur allowed them to file a separate application for this and listed the matter for May 19. Meanwhile, LG Saxena’s counsel, Advocate Gajinder Kumar, opposed the arguments made by Patkar’s side.
