Delhi HC Issues Notice To Barkha Dutt As None Appeared For Her In Plea Seeking Transfer Of Her Complaint Against Kapil Sibal To Special Court For MP/MLA [Read Order]

The Single Bench of Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani has issued notice to Barkha Dutt herself as none appeared for her in the matter. The Court will now take up the matter on November 02.

The present transfer petition relates to the case filed by Barkha Dutt against Analog media, which is owned by Senior Advocate and Congress leader Kapil Sibal and his wife, for sacking employees of Tiranga TV employees without any pay or notice period.

Dutt had argued in her complaint that over 200 employees of Tiranga TV were sacked by the Sibals without honouring the terms of the contract. She has claimed a sum of Rs 74 lacs as compensation for such arbitrary action.

The present transfer petition was filed in light of an order dated 16/03/20 passed by the District & Sessions Judge, Patiala House Court, recording that:

'A criminal complaint was filed against a sitting Member of Parliament along with other persons before the learned Metropolitan Magistrate, Patiala House Courts, New Delhi; but that since there is a designated court to try cases relating to MPs/ MLAs at Rouse Avenue District Courts, New Delhi, the complaint requires to be transferred to that court.'

Since transfer of the case from Patiala House Courts to Rouse Avenue District Courts would be an inter-Sessions Division transfer, the matter had to be listed before the High Court under section 407 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

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