'Courts overflooded': Delhi HC asks Lakshmi Puri, Saket Gokhale to resolve row

New Delhi: In the defamation case filed by former diplomat Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri against TMC MP Saket Gokhale, the Delhi High Court on Thursday urged them to settle the issue saying "courts are overflooded".

A bench of Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar proposed a meeting to settle the matter after noting that Gokhle tendered an apology, which was accepted by Puri.

"You're in public life, respected public figures. If both parties can see sit together and try to resolve the dispute. Please take into consideration court are already overflooded," the bench said.

The court was dealing with Gokhale's appeal against a single judge's July 1, 2024 verdict restraining the TMC leader from publishing further on social media or any online platform against Puri.

The single judge directed him to apologise to her and pay Rs 50 lakh in damages.

The bench on Thursday noted that besides apology, property had also been attached in regard to the payment.

"Attachment to continue," the bench said.

Both senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing Puri, and senior advocate Amit Sibal, appearing for Gokhale, told the bench that they will talk to their clients and consider court's proposal of settlement.