In a long-standing legal dispute, the court convicted social activist Medha Patkar on May 24 for making defamatory statements against Amit Saxena, a fellow activist and head of an Ahmedabad-based NGO, Council for Civil Liberties. The court observed that Patkar’s comments, which labeled Saxena as a “coward” and accused him of engaging in “hawala” transactions, were inherently defamatory and aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
Further exacerbating the defamation, Patkar claimed that Saxena was “mortgaging” the people of Gujarat and their resources to foreign interests. This statement was deemed a direct assault on his integrity and dedication to public service. The judgment highlights the severe implications of such accusations in diminishing the public’s trust in Saxena’s commitments and character.
The legal confrontation between Patkar and Saxena dates back to 2000, initially sparked by Saxena’s advertisements critiquing Patkar and her involvement with the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA). In retaliation, Patkar sued Saxena, who subsequently filed two cases against her in 2001. These cases were related to remarks she made during a television broadcast and statements issued in a press release, which Saxena claimed were derogatory and defamatory.
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Following extensive hearings, the arguments on sentencing concluded on May 30, and the court reserved its judgment on the quantum of the sentence until June 7. This case not only underscores the tensions within India’s activist community but also serves as a cautionary tale about the legal repercussions of public declarations made against individuals without substantial evidence.
