Delhi HC expresses shock over failing to follow its order by Juhi Chawla

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court expressed shock over the failure to obey its order to deposit Rs 20 lakh by Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla and two of her acquaintances as a fine imposed on them for a frivolous lawsuit challenging the rollout of 5G wireless network technology.

The court was addressing the three applications moved by the actor seeking court fee refund, waiver of costs imposed and replacing the word "dismissed" in the judgment with "rejected".

The third application rejecting the plaint will be placed before Justice Sanjeev Narula after the court fee. The matter has been scheduled for another hearing on July 12.

Juhi Chawla and her associates - Veeresh Malik and Teena Vachani - had filed a petition against the setting up of 5G wireless networks in India due to the health hazards it could cause. The petition was dismissed and the court described it as "defective", "abuse of process of law", "waste of judicial time", and "filed for gaining publicity"

Justice J.R. Midha said that it is shocking that the plaintiffs are not willing to gracefully deposit the cost. "I have never seen in my judicial career a plaintiff who doesn't want to pay the court fee," said the court.

The court also said that it has been lenient in imposing Rs 20 lakh and not initiating contempt proceedings. "I was shocked. This court took a lenient view and did not issue contempt when the case was made out." said the Justice.

In June, the court had said that the complaint includes "unnecessary, scandalous, frivolous, and vexatious averments", which are liable to be struck down under the Code of Civil Procedure.

The suit filed by Juhi Chawla and her associates had argued that the government should certify to the public at large that 5G technology will not have any significant adverse effects "on the health, life, organ or limb of adult, child, whether of the present or future generation(s), or to any living organism, or to flora and fauna".

Senior advocate Meet Malhotra, representing Juhi Chawla, submitted that the cost would either be deposited in a week or ten days, or legal remedies will be taken.

The High Court has granted a week to Chawla and two others to deposit the fine imposed.