The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed further trial court proceedings in a defamation case filed against Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi regarding remarks made concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Bench Order and Legal Arguments
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Aparesh Kumar Singh heard a special leave petition filed by Gandhi challenging a September 8 Bombay High Court order, which had declined to quash summons issued against him.
The apex court bench issued formal notices to the Maharashtra government and the original complainant, M.H. Shrishrimal, seeking their official responses within four weeks.
”Issue notice returnable in four weeks. Further proceedings before the trial court shall remain stayed,” the bench directed.
Appearing for the Congress leader, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi cited established judicial precedents, arguing that settled legal principles warranted a review of the summons.
Background of the Case
The defamation complaint originated from a public address delivered by Gandhi in September 2018 in Rajasthan. The complainant alleged that the remarks amounted to generalized defamation against individuals associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Following a Girgaum magistrate’s order issuing process against Gandhi in August 2019, the matter moved through the Bombay High Court, which eventually refused to cancel the summons while granting a temporary deferment period to allow an appeal before the Supreme Court. With today’s interim order, trial proceedings are formally halted pending the court’s detailed examination.
