The Delhi High Court on Tuesday proposed to reduce from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 2 lakh the costs imposed on actor Juhi Chawla and two others by a single judge while dismissing her plea against 5G.
It will consider reducing the cost imposed on Bollywood actor Juhi Chawla for her petition challenging the 5G technology roll-out from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 2 lakh, the Delhi High Court said.
A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh said that Chawla’s status can be used for the good of society and therefore, she will have to do some public work which could involve featuring in a programme for the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA).
A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh issued notice to the DSLSA secretary seeking his response on the appeal and listed the matter for further hearing on January 27.
Chawla’s counsel, Senior Advocate Salman Khurshid, consented to the court’s suggestion which came during the hearing of an appeal by Chawla and the two others against the order dismissing her lawsuit against the 5G roll out. If the cost amount could be waived, they could go back to pursue the cause, Khurshid submitted.
To this, the bench proposed to the counsel that it could reduce the cost amount but this would come with a condition that Chawla would have to do some public work.
While issuing notice to the DSLSA, the bench said it was not inclined to issue notice to other respondents at this stage because of their primary grievance is relating to payment of Rs 20 lakh costs amount to the DSLSA.
Last week, the DSLSA also approached the Delhi High Court seeking execution of the order directing Chawla to deposit the money.