The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed the plea filed by actor-environmentalist Juhi Chawla against the setting up of 5G wireless networks in the country.
The High Court, in its order, said that the suit seemed to have been filed for publicity. The plaintiff, Juhi Chawla, circulated the link of the hearing on social media which created disruption thrice, it said. The court, therefore, imposed a fine of Rs 20 lakh on Chawla and other plaintiffs for abusing the process of law.
The Delhi HC also ordered Delhi Police to identify the persons and take action against those who created disruption.
The court said that the plaintiffs, Chawla and others, were required to first approach the government for their rights and, if denied, they should come to the court
The HC had on Wednesday reserved its order on the plea filed by the Bollywood actress against the roll-out of 5G telecommunication services in the country.
Juhi Chawla, who has been actively creating awareness of the harmful effects of radiofrequency radiation (RF), had filed a lawsuit in the Delhi High Court against the implementation of 5G mobile technology in India. The actress said that 5G technology exposes people and animals to RF radiation that is 10 to
100 times greater than it exists today.
On 2 June when the first virtual hearing commenced on Juhi Chawla’s petition and the actress joined, someone on the call began singing “Ghoonghat ki aad se Dilbar ka” from her 1993 movie Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke. After which Justice J.R. Midha said: “Please mute.” A while later during the hearing, somebody again sang: ‘Lal Lal Hoton Pe Gori Kiska Naam Hai’ from the 1995 movie Naajayaz after which that person was removed from the virtual hearing. The hearing was again disrupted when a participant began singing ‘Meri Banno ki aayegi baarat’. The judge directed the court master to identify the person and remove him immediately from the virtual hearing and issue a contempt notice against him.
The court observed the submissions on three applications of the plaintiff regarding Section 90, concession in court fee, and permission regarding the institution of the suit.
The Delhi HC asked Juhi Chawla to file a short note on her plea. The court said that it will first take up four applications filed by the actress and two others in the plea including permission to institute the suit. It also permitted advocate Amit Mahajan, representing the Department of Telecommunication (DoT), to file a one-and-a-half-page note to see if an audience is required to be given to it.