The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed IAS officer Rohini Sindhuri and IPS officer D Roopa Moudgil to refrain from making allegations against each other and end the dispute between them by opting for a settlement.
Noting that the career of the two young officers would be affected if this fight went on, the Bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Pankaj Mithal observed that they were public functionaries and such conduct should not continue.
Listing the matter for next week, the Bench suggested them to withdraw the allegations against each other.
It said if both parties agreed to the suggestion, then everything including any pending litigations between them, would also go.
The Apex Court further told them that once they agreed to withdraw the allegations against each other, it would direct the State not to proceed further with any departmental action taken against them in connection with their fight.
Appearing for Sindhuri, Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra apprised the Bench that she was not ready to settle. However, he sought more time to speak to her about a possible solution.
D Roopa was represented by Senior Advocate Aditya Sondhi.
The Bench passed the order on a petition filed by Moudgil challenging the Karnataka High Court order that refused to quash a criminal defamation case initiated against her by Sindhuri.
Earlier on December 15, the top court of the country ordered an interim stay in the matter and directed the officers not to speak with the media. It further suggested the two parties to resolve the dispute between them through mediation.
The matter pertained to February 18, 2023, when Sindhuri discovered that Moudgil had made several allegations against her in Facebook posts.
In these posts, Moudgil allegedly accused Sindhuri of sharing her private pictures with fellow IAS officers.
This led to a public spat between the two, prompting the State government to transfer both officers.
On February 21, Sindhuri issued a legal notice to Moudgil and demanded an unconditional apology and Rs one crore in damages for the loss of her reputation and mental agony.
On March 24, a Bengaluru court, which was hearing the private suit filed by Sindhuri, ordered the initiation of a criminal defamation case against Roopa Moudgil.
Moudgil then moved the High Court to have the same quashed. On August 21, the Karnataka High Court rejected her plea.
The single-judge Bench of Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum observed that Moudgil’s statements on social media accounts and print media warranted a criminal trial. She then moved the apex court.
On December 13, 2023, the Supreme Court recommended mediation, taking in view the high ranks of the parties involved.
The Apex Court observed that public spats between such officials would demean the administration and its image. It further advised them to avoid ‘mud-slinging.’
On December 14, 2023, the Bench suggested Moudgil to give an undertaking that she would remove all social media posts against Sindhuri and apologise so that the issue could be settled.
The top court of the country noted that if the officers continued to fight and refuse meditation, the State administration would come to a standstill.
On December 15, 2023, the Bench went through the undertaking given by Moudgil on the affidavit and proceeded to stay the defamation proceedings as an interim measure.