Delhi court upheld the metropolitan magistrate’s order of convicting 69-year-old social activist Medha Patkar in a criminal defamation case filed by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.
However, additional sessions judge Vishal Singh of Saket Court deferred pronouncing an order on the sentence due to the absence of Patkar’s physical presence in court.
The judge, however, clarified that the sentence could not be enhanced since the Delhi police had not preferred a plea. It could only be maintained or reduced.
The court is to hear the matter at 2 pm, on the arguments of the necessity of Patkar’s physical presence for pronouncing the order in the sentence.
“The appeal has been dismissed, the conviction stands but for sentencing, the appellant has to appear in person. In order to receive sentence, the convict must be present in court. What is impugned is the judgement of conviction and sentencing. Since the state has not come for enhancement, there is no question for enhancement but at the most it can be maintained or reduced,” judge Singh said.
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