HC proposes to reduce costs imposed on Juhi Chawla from Rs 20L to Rs 2L in 5G lawsuit with a condition

The Delhi High Court Tuesday proposed to reduce the costs imposed on actress Juhi Chawla and two others from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 2 lakh by a single judge while dismissing her plea against 5G roll out, with a condition that she would have to do some work for public cause, considering that she is a celebrity and has presence in public. 

Senior advocate and Juhi’s counsel Salman Khurshid, on instructions from her, agreed to the court's suggestion which came up during the hearing of an appeal by Chawla and two others against the order, dismissing her lawsuit against the 5G roll out.

A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh issued notice to the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) secretary seeking his response on the appeal and listed the matter for further hearing on January 27.

Khurshid submitted that if the cost amount could be waived, they could go back to pursue the cause.

To this, the bench proposed to the counsel that it could reduce the cost amount but this would come with a condition that Chawla would have to do some public work.

The bench said,

"We will not waive the cost completely but we can reduce it substantially from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. But that comes with a condition. Considering your client is a celebrity and has presence in public, so she should do some public work also. Her image and position may be utilised by the society for some public work, some good campaign and good purpose also. Will she do it? She could do a programme for DSLSA here. DSLSA people will contact her and they could work out something and she can feature in it and could promote.”

Senior advocate Salman said it would be an honour for her and it would be a lifetime opportunity and sought a passover to take instructions from the actress on it.

After some time, he informed the bench that the actress was grateful to the court for making this suggestion and she agreed to it.

He also said if the court could find a way of taking care of the negative impact, which the press reports make sometimes, it would help her.

While dismissing the lawsuit, the single judge had said the plaint in which questions have been raised about health hazards due to the 5G technology were "not maintainable" and was "stuffed with unnecessary Scandalous, frivolous and vexatious averments", which are liable to be struck down.