Delhi HC quashes Juhi Chawla's 5G lawsuit, imposes Rs 20 lakh fine
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New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday quashed the lawsuit filed by actress and environmentalist Juhi Chawla against the setting up of 5G wireless networks in the country. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 20 lakhs on the actress and said that the plaintiffs abused the process of law.
The bench comprising Justice J.R. Midha noted that the suit filed by Chawla and two others was defective, non-maintainable, and also contained unverified and vexatious assertions.
In its order, the Delhi High Court said that the lawsuit appears to have been done for for publicity'. It also expressed its dissatisfaction at Juhi Chawla for circulating the link of the virtual hearing on social media, causing disruption thrice.
During the hearing, unknown persons repeatedly disturbed by singing Bollywood songs of films in which she had acted.
The court also directed the Delhi Police to identify these persons and proceed against them under the law.
The bench also said that Chawla's declaration cannot be allowed under the law after observing that the actress did not approach any of the 33 defendants named in her suit.
Chawla did not deposit the court fees for her suit and directed her to pay Rs 1.95 lakh within one week.
On June 2, the High Court had questioned Chawla as to why she had directly filed a suit against setting up of 5G wireless networks without making any representation to the department concerned in the government, and insisted the plaintiffs, Chawla and two others, should have gone to the government first.
After hearing the arguments in the matter, the court reserved its order.
The plea filed by Chawla, Veeresh Malik and Teena Vachani claimed that 5G wireless technology can be a potential threat to provoke irreversible and serious effects on humans and it could also permanently damage to the earth's ecosystems.
The plea contended that to levels of RF radiation that are 10x to 100x times greater than the existing levels, and no living species on the planet would be able to survive round the clock exposure.