18 Dec 2023 6:55 AM GMT
The Supreme Court on December 15 stayed the proceedings in the criminal defamation complaint filed by Rohini Sindhuri IAS against D Roopa Moudgil IPS.
A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Pankaj Mithal passed the interim order in a petition filed by Roopa seeking to quash the defamation case.
The bench also restrained both the Karnataka officers from giving any interview or information to the media, social and print, in any form, considering the fact that it is making an attempt to resolve all the disputes pending between the parties.
Posting the matter to January 12, 2024, the bench ordered:
"In the meanwhile, the Criminal Case subject matter of this petition will not proceed further ... Considering the fact that we are making an attempt to resolve all the disputes pending between the parties, none of them shall give any interview or any information to the media, social and print, in any form."
Previously, on December 14, the bench had directed Moudgil to take down the social media posts against Sindhuri. Following that Moudgil filed an affidavit regarding the deletion of the posts. Taking on record the affidavit and the undertaking given by Moudgil, the Court ordered a stay on the criminal defamation case.
Earlier, the Court had expressed dismay at the spat between the civil servants. "If IAS-IPS officers fight like this, how will the administration work?," Justice Oka had observed. The bench had stated that it was entertaining the petition only to attempt to end the dispute.
Senior Advocate Adithya Sondhi and Shubhranshu Padhi AoR represented D Roopa. Senior Advocate Vinay Navare and Advocate-on-Record Ilam Paridi appeared for Sindhuri.
Case Details : D Roopa v. Rohini Sindhuri | Diary No. 43749-2023