Seshan's suit dismissed

NEW DELHI, APRIL 20. The Delhi High Court has dismissed a Rs. one crore damages suit filed by the former Chief Election Commissioner, Mr. T. N. Seshan, against the United News of India (UNI). The counsel for Mr. Seshan told Mr. Justice Vikramajit Sen that his client was no longer interested in the suit and sought its dismissal.

The UNI counsel argued that the Defendant had been harrassed for eight years and therefore a token amount as costs be imposed. ``Keeping the circumstances of the case in view, the suit is dismissed with token costs of Rs. 101 which has been tendered and received,'' said Mr. Justice Sen in his order on April 18.

Mr. Seshan had filed the suit claiming that a UNI news report of March 16, 1992, about him was false and damaged his image. The story had quoted a report of the National Security Guards (NSG) to the Home Ministry, lodging a protest against Mr. Seshan's behaviour on February 28, 1992, when the former Chief Election Commissioner had reportedly asked his NSG guards why they had not fired on the occupants of a car that did not give him way, when he was returning home.

The news agency cited 35 witnesses to defend its stand including the former NSG Director, Gen. R.N. Bhalla and an Additional Commissioner of Police (Security), Mr. R. K. Sharma.

- UNI

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : Navy resurrects crippled Mauritian warship
Next     : Vittal's suggestion to statute panel