Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar has approached the Delhi High Court challenging her conviction in a criminal defamation case filed by Vinai Kumar Saxena—currently the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi—back in 2001.

The case was listed today before Justice Shalinder Kaur, who adjourned the matter to May 19. Patkar’s petition contests the April 2 decision of the trial court, which dismissed her appeal against the conviction. She has also challenged the same-day order directing her personal appearance before the trial court to make submissions on sentencing. That hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.

During today’s proceedings, Patkar’s counsel argued that the trial court, after dismissing the appeal, became functus officio and could not have issued a direction for personal appearance or scheduled a separate hearing on sentencing. The counsel sought time to place the relevant trial court orders and legal precedents on record.

The High Court, however, observed that the petition appeared premature, and advised Patkar’s legal team to file an appropriate application before the trial court to explain her inability to appear in person.

The Court stated, “The counsel is at liberty to move appropriate application before the trial court which shall be considered as per law.”

Patkar had earlier challenged her conviction and sentence awarded by the Metropolitan Magistrate (MM) court in 2023. While the sentence of five months’ imprisonment and a fine of ₹10 lakh was imposed, she was granted bail and the sentence was stayed during the pendency of the appeal.

The defamation case dates back to 2001, when Saxena—then the head of the Ahmedabad-based NGO National Council for Civil Liberties—filed a complaint over a press note issued by Patkar on November 25, 2000. Titled “True Face of Patriot,” the note alleged that Saxena had issued a ₹40,000 cheque to support NBA, which later bounced, with the bank reporting the account did not exist. Patkar also allegedly described Saxena as “a coward and not a patriot,” and implied his involvement in hawala transactions.

The trial court, while convicting Patkar under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code, found her actions to be deliberate and malicious, holding that her statements caused substantial damage to Saxena’s reputation and were crafted to provoke negative public perception.