Court asks Patkar, NGO chief to compromise

A Delhi court on Friday asked the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activist Medha Patkar and the head of an Ahmedabad-based NGO, who have filed three cross defamation cases against each other, to reach a compromise and referred the matters to the mediation centre.

Metropolitan Magistrate Vasundhra <g data-gr-id="17">Chhaunkar</g> said both Patkar and V K Saxena, President of NGO National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL), were public figures and their long legal tussle was not leading anywhere.

“You both are public figures. Why don’t you sit and talk? The matter is being referred to mediation centre. You both try to reach settlement today itself before a mediator and inform the court on next date of hearing,” the metropolitan magistrate said while posting the matter for July 30.

During the brief hearing, Patkar deposited Rs 3,000 fine imposed on her for non-appearance on the 

last date of hearing of the case and submitted a medical certificate regarding her ailments. The court, which was to pronounce its order on framing of defamation charges against Patkar in one of the three cases, asked her why she was not trying to settle the dispute with Saxena.