The Supreme Court is hearing a special leave petition filed by IPS officer D Roopa against a criminal defamation case brought against her by IAS officer Rohini Sindhuri.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has extended an opportunity to Karnataka IAS officer Rohini Sindhuri and IPS officer D Roopa, urging them to amicably resolve their ongoing dispute. The court has explicitly instructed both parties to refrain from making any public statements regarding the case, emphasizing the importance of a peaceful resolution.
During a hearing on January 12, the Supreme Court expressed its intention to provide one more chance for the officers to settle their differences in a manner beneficial to both. This decision follows the interim stay, initiated on December 15, 2023, on the criminal defamation proceedings that Sindhuri had filed against Roopa.
“We give one more opportunity to the contesting parties to work out a solution which will be in the interest of both of them,” the Supreme Court said after a hearing on January 12.
The case at hand involves a special leave petition (SLP) filed by Roopa, challenging the criminal defamation case brought against her by Sindhuri in Bengaluru. In an earlier directive dated December 14, the Supreme Court had requested Roopa to either remove the contentious social media posts or express regret as a potential solution to the dispute.
Complying with the Supreme Court’s suggestions, Roopa submitted an affidavit on December 15, confirming the removal of all posts related to Sindhuri from her social media profiles. In her affidavit, Roopa stated,
“Though the Respondent had objected to only some specific posts of mine in her complaint, in due deference to the observations of this Hon’ble Court, I have taken down all the posts with respect to the respondent.”
The origins of this legal battle can be traced back to August 2023, when the Karnataka High Court declined to dismiss the defamation case lodged by Sindhuri against Roopa. Consequently, Roopa approached the Supreme Court for relief. Sindhuri’s complaint accused Roopa of disseminating photos, making allegations on social media, and issuing statements in the media that questioned her personal and professional integrity, thereby seeking to damage her reputation. The case was filed under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), with Sindhuri seeking damages of Rs 1 crore.
The High Court, in its judgment dated August 21, had observed,
“If the statements posted on a private account as well as the statements made before the print media are examined, I am more than satisfied that the petitioner/accused is bound to face a criminal trial.”
The court also noted that the determination of whether the Facebook posts and media statements fall under exceptions would be a matter for trial.
The dispute between Sindhuri and Roopa had escalated into a major controversy in Karnataka in early 2023, leading to both officers being temporarily without postings. However, in September 2023, nearly seven months after the initial spat, the officers were assigned new roles. Sindhuri, a 2009 batch IAS officer, was appointed as the chief editor of the Karnataka Gazetteer Department, while Roopa, a 2000 batch IPS officer, took up the position of inspector general of police in the internal security department.
The Supreme Court’s intervention in this matter highlights the judiciary’s role in not only adjudicating legal disputes but also in facilitating reconciliation and maintaining the decorum of public service. The resolution of this case could set a precedent for handling similar disputes in the future, emphasizing the importance of professional conduct and mutual respect among civil servants.
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