JAMMU TAWI, August 1: Second Additional District Judge Jammu, Mr Rajinder Saproo has summoned Programme Head of All India Radio (AIR) Jammu besides Editor-in-Chief of a Delhi-based online news portal and its Correspondent in a defamation suit filed against the trio.
Those who have been summoned, include Ms Renu Raina Bhat, Programme Head of AIR Delhi, Mr Basant Kumar, Correspondent of “Newslaundry” besides the Editor-in-Chief of this New Delhi based newspotal.
While issuing notices in a suit for damages filed by Advocate Harish Kaila, President of Nami Dogri Sanstha, the Judge directed all the three accused to appear in the Court on August 29, 2022 in person or through their counsels. “In the event of their non-appearance, the matter shall be heard and decided in their absence”, the Judge ordered.
In his defamation suit, Advocate Harish Kaila submitted that in its May 24, 2022 Edition, the Newslaundry had carried a statement of accused number one (Renu Raina Bhat) uttered against the petitioner with a sole aim to tarnish his credentials. In her unauthorized interview to the news portal, she had challenged that the petitioner was not an Advocate by profession; as a result, her act had caused doubts in the eyes of general public.
All the three accused had earlier been served legal notices, impressing upon them to apologize for their malicious act which had caused mental agonies, torture and financial losses besides a dent to the reputation of the plaintiff. However, none of them replied with an apology.
