DHNS

Mangalore, Jul 26: The State High Court has dismissed a defamation case filed by the Kudremukh Wildlife Division former DCF Anitha S Arekal against the proprietor of Athree book centre in the City, G N Ashokvardhan who also leads ‘Arohana Mountaineers and Adventurers’.

In reaction to a press statement by Mr Ashokvardhan that the DCF was withholding official information even when applied for as per the Right to Information Act, Ms Arekal had filed a defamation case against him in the Udupi District and Sessions Court early in 2004.

The court had dismissed the petition on September 14, 2004. However, Ms Arekal appealed the judgement in the High Court later. In its order dated September 21, 2007, the HC said: “It is difficult to know what was the nature of allegations or imputations made by the respondent-accused (Mr Ashokvardhan) against the petitioner (Ms Arekal) and in what manner such statement had affected her esteem and respect in public,” informed a release.

Thus the HC has upheld the judgement of the Udupi Sessions Judge, the release added.