Metropolitan Magistrate Vasundhra Chhaunkar slapped a cost of Rs 1,000 in each of the three defamation cases, one filed by Patkar and two by V K Saxena, President of National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL), who are involved in a legal tussle for the last 14 years, after she failed to appear in court.
The Magistrate gave "last and final opportunity" to the NBA activist to appear on May 14 and produce the medical certificate for her non-appearance today.
"Counsel for accused has moved an application seeking exemption from personal appearance on medical grounds. However no medical certificate is brought on record. Exemption allowed and last and final opportunity is granted with further direction to produce medical certificate with cost of Rs 1000 in each of the cases," the court said.
The matter was listed today for order on framing of charges against Patkar in one of the cases. In the other two cases, the court had already framed charges.
Saxena also argued himself and complained that Patkar always seeks exemption from personal appearance. He claimed that on one occasion she did not appear on medical grounds but it was later discovered through RTI application that she was sitting on a dharna and protest.