Activist Medha Patkar held guilty in defamation case filed by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena
Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena claimed that she had made "disparaging" comments about him on a television channel in 2006 and had issued a "defamatory" press statement.
Medha Patkar, the founder of the Narmada Bachao Andolan, has been found guilty in a defamation lawsuit filed against her by VK Saxena, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Ms. Patkar could face a monetary fine, a two-year prison sentence, or both as penalties.
The lawsuit began in 2006 and was settled in a Delhi court. The verdict was delivered by Metropolitan Magistrate Raghav Sharma.
Magistrate Sharma stressed the importance of reputation, stating that it is one of a person’s most valuable assets. He noted that it affects both personal and professional relationships and can significantly impact a person’s societal standing.
The legal dispute between Ms. Patkar and Mr. Saxena started in 2000. At that time, Mr. Saxena was leading the National Council for Civil Liberties, a non-governmental organisation based in Ahmedabad. Ms. Patkar had accused him of publishing advertisements that were harmful to her and the Narmada Bachao Andolan.
In response, Mr. Saxena filed two lawsuits against Ms. Patkar. He claimed that she had made “disparaging” comments about him on a television channel in 2006 and had issued a “defamatory” press statement.
The Narmada Bachao Andolan had claimed that the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat, inaugurated in 2017, could displace 40,000 families. The organization had organized large-scale protests, warning that these families might have to leave their homes due to submersion. The project has been controversial since its inception in 1961 when the foundation stone was laid by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
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