The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Gopal gets a week to file counter to Jayalalithaa’s affidavit

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Wednesday, Sep 03, 2008
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Gopal gets a week to file counter to Jayalalithaa’s affidavit

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered posting after one week, the filing of a counter to an affidavit by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who has sought to reject a plaint in a civil suit filed by ‘Nakkheeran’ Gopal.

Mr. Gopal filed the suit for a declaration that the statements made by Ms. Jayalalithaa, criticising the way in which Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments handled the episode relating to the abduction of Kannada actor Rajkumar, were defamatory.

In her affidavit filed by counsel A. Navaneethakrishnan, the former Chief Minister said that her statements were made in national interest.

The views expressed by her had been vindicated and strengthened by the Supreme Court in a judgment.

The case was filed by the father of a police officer done to death by brigand Veerappan, challenging the dropping of TADA charges against the accused. The judgment clearly held that both the State governments acted against the law. In the judgment, the conditions imposed by Veerappan and accepted by the then State governments, and the decisions taken by the governments had been declared illegal. Thus, her statements touching upon the issue of release of Rajkumar were justified. “I submit that though I was not in power at that point of time, I took all steps to see that the rule of law, democratic values, integrity of territory of our nation and sovereignty of our nation are protected.”

She submitted that the statements made by her were per se not scurrilous. They were true and correct. They were issued in the interest of public and the nation and to uphold the rule of law and democratic values. She had no intention to defame anybody, including Mr. Gopal.

Earlier, Mr. Justice M.Jeyapaul condoned the delay in filing the written statement of Ms.Jayalalithaa.

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