HC asks Nirupam and Irani to go for out-of-court settlement

Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam and BJP MP Smriti Irani were today asked by the Delhi High Court to settle out-of-court a defamation complaint filed by the actor-turned-politician accusing him of using derogatory language against her during a TV debate.
"You both are public figures and why don't you sit across the table and settle the dispute amicably?" Justice Sunil Gaur said while hearing Nirupam's plea against the trial court's order summoning him on Irani's complaint.
Justice Gaur referred the matter to Delhi High Court mediation centre for September 6.
The court also asked the parliamentarians' counsel to file a report before it on October 25.

Filing the plea challenging the trial court's March 11 order, Nirupam said the magistrate's order taking cognizance of the complaint, filed by Irani against him, is "bad in law".
"The magistrate, without application of mind and contrary to law, came to take cognisance on the material to issue summons," the plea said.