In a landmark judgment, a Lucknow Court has ruled in favor of Dr. Mahendra Singh, an ex-UP Minister and current BJP Leader, in a defamation suit against AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh. The court ordered Sanjay Singh to pay a compensation of 1 lakh rupees to Mahendra Singh for making defamatory statements.
The case originated from a press conference held in August 2021 by Sanjay Singh in Lucknow. During this conference, Singh accused Mahendra Singh, who was then serving as the State Jal Shakti Minister, of engaging in corrupt practices within the Jal Jeevan Mission scheme. He labeled Mahendra Singh as a ‘Paani Chor’ (water thief), ‘Corrupted’, and ‘thief’, leading to the defamation suit.
The court’s decision, which proceeded ex-parte due to Sanjay Singh’s absence despite being summoned, was based on a thorough examination of the records, including Sanjay Singh’s social media posts and statements made during the press conference. In its critical observation, the court stated,
“However, the defendant levelled corruption charges, called out names and did so repeatedly over the social media platform. In view of this Court, an unsubstantiated false charge for corruption is defamatory enough for filing a civil action. In the present case, the statements are categorically defamatory. The evidence of PW-3 and PW-4 shows how the same had lowered the esteem of the plaintiff in their eyes, though the same was later restored. The evidence on record stands unrebutted. There is nothing on record to disbelieve the same.”
This statement underscores the court’s stance on the seriousness of the allegations and their impact.
The court emphasized the constitutional right to freedom of speech but also highlighted the responsibility that comes with it, especially for public figures. The judgment pointed out that Sanjay Singh should have exercised due diligence and caution, refraining from using unparliamentary language and making unsubstantiated allegations.
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Representing Dr. Mahendra Singh in this case were Prashant Singh Atal, Chief Standing Counsel, along with his associates Ambuj Singh and Digvijay Singh. The court’s decision to decree the suit in favor of Mahendra Singh is a significant reminder of the legal consequences of making unfounded defamatory statements in public forums.
This ruling serves as a crucial example of balancing freedom of speech with the need to avoid defamation, particularly in political discourse and public allegations. It highlights the legal implications of irresponsible speech and the importance of substantiating claims made in public.
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