NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Friday dismissed a lawsuit filed by actor Juhi Chawla against the setting up of 5G wireless networks across India and imposed a Rs 20 lakh fine on the plaintiffs for “abusing the process of law”.
In its order dismissing the plea, the bench said the lawsuit was defective and wasted the court’s time.
It said that it appears the suit filed by the actor-environmentalist was meant for publicity, adding that she had circulated the link of the hearing on social media which led to the disruption of proceedings three times.
The court directed the Delhi Police to identify and take action against those who caused disruption.
On Wednesday, while the hearing on Chawla’s plea against the 5G wireless network was on, a man started singing some of the hit songs of the actress’ movies and caused repeated interruptions in the virtual proceedings.
On the directions of Justice J R Midha, who was hearing the case, the person was repeatedly removed from the hearing, but he kept on joining and started singing till the time the proceedings were locked.
At the outset, the man was also heard saying “where is Juhi Ma’am I can’t see her” and when the judge asked the court master to mute the concerned person, he said “you want to mute me.
Oh really!” The Centre on its part sought dismissal of the suit calling it a “frivolous” one.
After hearing the arguments of various stakeholders, the bench reserved for orders, but not before calling it a “defective plea for media publicity.” Chawla and other petitioners have claimed that India’s 5G wireless technology roll out plan threatens to provoke serious, irreversible effects on humans and permanent damage to the earth’s ecosystems.
The suit said if the telecom industry’s plans for 5G comes to fruition, no person, animal, bird, insect and plant on earth will be able to avoid exposure, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to levels of RF radiation that are 10 to 100 times greater than what exists today.
It had urged HC to intervene immediately.
(With inputs from agencies)