Court dismisses Kailash Satyarthi's plea in 1997 suit

NEW DELHI: Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi's plea seeking a direction to trustees of a charitable trust, who have filed a suit against him in 1997, to deposit security for litigation costs to be incurred by him has been dismissed by a Delhi court which said the matter relates to public interest.

It, however, left the issue open saying if found necessary at any stage of the proceedings, it can intervene appropriately in accordance with the law.

Additional District Judge Kamini Lau agreed with the submissions of Satyarthi and his wife Sumedha Satyarthi that to check frivolous litigations there should be pre-deposit of litigation expenses.

But she noted that "the concept of pre-deposit of costs is yet to be introduced in a big way in the Indian Legal System."

Noting that this could be done by appropriate legislation, the court said, "hence in view of the above, the application filed by defendants is accordingly dismissed."

Satyarthi had sought a direction to the plaintiffs, trustees of the charitable trust Mukti Pratishthan Trust, to deposit security for costs incurred or likely to be incurred by him and his wife to defend themselves in the matter.

Plaintiffs Sheotaj Singh and others had opposed the plea of Satyarthi.