HC refuses to stay publication of Pathak Commission report

New Delhi, Aug 4 (UNI) While hearing a petition of Oil-for-food scam prime accused Andaleeb Sehgal, the Delhi High Court today refused to stay the publication of the Justice Pathak Commission report indicting former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and his son Jagat Singh.

A three-Judge bench comprising Justices T S Thakur, Vikramjit Sen and S L Bhayana refused to grant a stay on making the report public.

The order paved the way for the government to table the report in Parliament.

However, the court granted liberty to Sehgal to challenge the report, if it had tarnished the image of the petitioner causing irreparable damage.

''Supposing your client is held innocent by the Commission will you still assail the report," the Bench asked Sehgal's counsel Rajiv Sawhney.

Asking Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Gopal Subramanium to place a copy of the report in a sealed cover, the court said it would pass any direction only after going through the documents.

In a fresh application, Sehgal prayed for direction to the government restraining it from making public the report which directly alleged that Sehgal was one of the beneficiaries of the oil-for-food coupons given by the then Iraqi President Saddam Hussain.

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