MJ Akbar v Priya Ramani: District Court To Pronounce Orders On Transfer Of Case On Oct 22

The said order will decide as to which judge/court will be hearing this matter from now onwards.

Earlier, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vishal Pahuja refused to hear the arguments in MJ Akbar's defamation case against Priya Ramani by citing the Supreme Court's directions on MP/MLA courts.

ACMM Pahuja had transferred the case to another District & Sessions Judge for appropriate orders.

While transferring the order, the court noted that as per the Supreme Court's directions dated September 16, MP/MLA courts can only take up those cases which are filed against legislators and not by the legislators.

The case has been transferred during the tail end of its journey, after final arguments being made by both the parties. Today, Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra was supposed to start her arguments on rejoinder.

Senior Advocate Rebecca M John has already concluded her final arguments in defence of journalist Priya Ramani.

As per the Supreme Court's directions, the High Courts across the country have been directed to formulate a policy for expediting the cases before the special courts for MPs and MLAs.

Last week, the Delhi High Court also issued notice to the Central Government, the Delhi Government, and the Registry on a suo moto petition taken up to expedite the cases before the MP/MLA courts.