New Delhi:
A Delhi court has reserved its order in the defamation case, filed by Lieutenant General Tejinder Singh against the Army Chief, till Friday. The court is expected to pronounce its order on whether General V K Singh is to be summoned on May 18.
General Tejinder Singh has requested the court to summon and initiate proceedings against Army Chief General VK Singh and others for allegedly making defamatory statements against him in the media and accusing him of bribery.
Alleging that the officers misused their official position, power and authority to level false charges against him, he has, in his complaint, also named Army Vice Chief Lieutenant General SK Singh, Director General, Military Intelligence, Lieutenant General BS Thakur, Additional Director General, Public Information Major General SL Narsimhan and Directorate General of Public Information staff officer Lieutenant Colonel Hitten Sawhney.
Earlier, the Delhi High Court questioned the maintainability of his petition, which seeks withdrawal of an alleged defamatory press release accusing him of offering a bribe to the Army Chief.
Tejinder Singh had demanded that the Centre should clarify whether the press release, issued by the Army on March 5, was authorised by it. He had also demanded the press release be withdrawn and disciplinary action against the Army Chief.
The government told the court on May 7 that it has received a letter from the Army which says it had issued the press release in consonance with its media policy and in consultation with its top brass. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) A S Chandhiok, appearing for the Centre, gave the court a note, which purportedly made clear the Centre's stand.
The Court has asked Lieutenant General Tejinder Singh when he has an alternative remedy and his defamation suit against certain Army officers is already pending in the lower court, why should the High Court entertain his petition.