The Delhi High Court has observed that there was no license ever issued in favour of Union Minister Smriti Irani or her daughter in connection with a restaurant named Silly Souls Cafe and Bar, located in Goa.
Justice Mini Pushkarna made the observation while issuing summons to Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera and Netta D'Souza in civil defamation suit seeking damages of Rs. 2 crores filed by Irani for making allegations against her and her daughter regarding the said restaurant.
The Court had last week directed the Congress leaders to delete the said allegations made by them during a press conference, from all social media platforms. In the order released on Monday, the Court observed thus:
"Considering the documents on record it is clearly seen that there was no license which was ever issued in favour of the plaintiff or her daughter. The plaintiff or her daughter are not the owners of the restaurant. It has also been established by the plaintiff prima facie that the plaintiff or her daughter never applied for license."
"Neither the restaurant nor the land on which the restaurant exists is owned by the plaintiff or her daughter even the show cause notice issued by the Government of Goa is not in the name of the plaintiff or her daughter. All these facts have also been affirmed in affidavit by the plaintiff."
Perusing the material on record, the Court was of the view that reputation of an individual has been placed at the highest altar and has been considered as akin to Right to Life of a citizen under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
