Court allows CM's petition

Una, Mar 29 (UNI) A local court in Una district of Himachal Pradesh today allowed Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's revision petition in a defamation case filed against him by former Chairman of the HP State Subordinate Services Selection Board (HPSSSSB), S M Katwal.

Appearing for the chief minister, his counsel said Mr Katwal had filed a criminal petition under section 500 IPC against his client for allegedly using defamatory words at a public meeting during the Guler by-elections in the court of Judicial Magistrate Class-I (JMIC) Una.

The judge had issued orders for personal appearance of the chief minister, against which a revision petition was filed in the court of the Additional Sessions Judge, he said, adding that the judge further pointed out that no criminal offence could be made in the case.

Further, he said the same judge also disallowed another revision petition by SM Katwal against IPH Minister Kaul Singh for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Katwal and the HPSSSSB during his tenure.

The statement was allegedly made at a public function in Tahliwal about two years ago.

Mr Katwal had filed a criminal case under section 500 IPC in the court of the Una Chief Judicial Magistrate who had rejected it.

The Counsel said Mr Katwal had filed a revision petition in the court of the Additional Sessions Judge, who disallowed the appeal.

UNI XC AS DP MSJ RS2146