New Delhi, Apr 8 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Monday refused to intervene in the summons issued to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh by a trial court in the Criminal defamation case.
This summons is part of a Criminal defamation case filed against Singh by Gujarat University regarding his comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's academic credentials.
A bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta dismissed Sanjay Singh’s petition to quash the summons issued to him by an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Gujarat..
The Gujarat High Court had earlier refused to grant Singh any relief in the matter, and the Supreme Court upheld the High Court's decision.
While refusing to entertain Singh's appeal the Apex Court told Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Singh, "We are not inclined to entertain this plea, Sorry,"
Besides, Sanjay Singh, the name of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also figures in the Defamation case filed in a Gujarat District Court.
The AAP leaders had questioned the reluctance of the Gujarat University to disclose copies of degree certificates awarded to Modi.
Appearing for Sanjay Singh, senior advocate Rebecca John contended that there was nothing defamatory said about the University to file the defamation complaint.
"It is apparent from the video that the statement is not defamatory to the University. It was not said that Gujarat University has forged the degree," John said.
The Court, however, replied that this could be argued at the trial stage.
Senior advocate AM Singhvi argued that there is a jurisdictional issue involved.
The Top Court, however, expressed that it will not allow two lawyers to argue for the same case.
The bench eventually decided not to interfere with the trial court's summons to Singh.
Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta represented Gujarat University.
The case pertains to a defamation case, filed by the Gujarat University in March 2023 accusing Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh of defamation. The AAP leaders challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational qualifications.
A trial court then summoned both Kejriwal and Singh in this defamation case in April last year, prompting the duo to move the Gujarat High Court seeking relief.
On February 26, the Gujarat High Court refused to quash the summons issued to Kejriwal and Singh.
The High Court added that the right to free speech cannot mean that a citizen can defame the other and that the university was “an identifiable group and determined class” to file a defamation complaint.
Singh then appealed in the Apex court against the High Court order which was also dismissed today.
The Apex court, however, clarified that any observations by the High Court in the matter should not influence the defamation trial against the accused politicians.
UNI SNG CS