Shocked at the conduct of plaintiffs: Delhi High Court on Juhi Chawla's plea against Rs. 20 Lakh fine in 5G case

The Delhi High court today condemned the act of Juhi Chawla and other plaintiffs of filing a plea against the Rs. 20 Lakh fine for a petition filed by them over the introduction of 5G technology. “This court took a lenient view when it did not issue contempt notice to Juhi Chawla. Otherwise, the case was made out. I am shocked with the conduct of the plaintiffs,” Justice J R Midha said. 

The original plea filed by them asserted that 5G wireless technology can harm human health and permanently damage the environment. While dismissing the plea filed by Juhi and other plaintiffs against the testing and implementation of 5G networks in India the court had imposed fine on them. The court  said that the plea was "defective and dismissed it on technical grounds."

“The plaintiffs have abused and misused the process of law which has resulted in waste of judicial time. The cost of Rs 20 lakh is imposed on the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs are directed to deposit the cost of Rs 20 lakh with Delhi State Legal Services Authority within one week,” the court had said at that time. According to the court, the lawsuit was filed only for media publicity and nothing else.

Counsel for Juhi Chawla stated before the court that the plaintiffs would deposit the court fees within seven days or avail other available remedies. The bench noted that plaintiffs were withdrawing the applications on the one hand, but not willing to pay court fees on the other. “I have never seen in my judicial career a plaintiff who doesn’t want to pay the court fee,” the bench said.  

"This is the most frivolous application I've seen in my life.” the court said. Justice Midha added that the court had been inclined to issue a contempt notice today. “You’re saying court has no power to impose costs?” he asked.

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