New Delhi:
The Delhi High Court today questioned the maintainability of retired Lieutenant General Tejinder Singh's petition, which seeks withdrawal of an alleged defamatory press release accusing him of offering a bribe to Army Chief General VK Singh to clear a defence deal.
Lieutenant General 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 He had also demanded the press release be withdrawn and disciplinary action against the Army Chief.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 today 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 today 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.
The Delhi High Court also asked the retired Army officer to prove that the right to reputation is a fundamental right.
"You show and satisfy me that right to reputation is a fundamental right. Do not argue in the air and come prepared with the case laws," Justice Mukta Gupta said.
Lieutenant General Tejinder Singh's lawyer will argue on the maintainability of his petition on May 24.
Lieutenant General Tejinder Singh claims that allegations made against him in the press release issued by the Army are "completely false and concocted". One of those allegations is that he offered General VK Singh Rs 14 crore in bribe on behalf of a company called Vectra in 2010. The Army Chief had caused a stir when he made that allegation in an interview in March.
Besides the Army Chief, Lieutenant General Tejinder Singh has named Vice Chief of Army Staff S K Singh, Lieutenant General B S Thakur (DG MI), Major General S L Narshiman (Additional Director General of Public Information) and Lieutenant Colonel Hitten Sawhney, accusing them of misusing their official positions, power and authority to level false charges against him.
The matter is also being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which recorded General VK Singh's statement last month and questioned Lieutenant General Tejinder Singh last week.