Here is why Reliance ADAG has filed an appeal in the defamation case against AM Singhvi

The Gujarat High Court has issued notice in the Rs. 5,000 crore defamation case filed by Anil Ambani’s Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited against Senior Advocate and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi..Senior Advocate Percy Kavina, who appeared for Reliance, confirmed the news to Bar & Bench. Kavina was briefed by advocate Saurabh Amin..The matter came up for hearing before Justice Paresh Upadhyay, who issued notice returnable by December 26..Following his comments alluding that the Central government was favouring big Indian corporates, a defamation case was filed against Singhvi in a civil court in Rajula, Amreli district in Gujarat. Singhvi was quoted in the press as saying,.“We all know that top 50 corporates owe Rs 8.35 lakh crore to banks and of those, the three top Gujarat-based companies — Reliance (Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group), Adani and Essar — owe Rs 3 lakh crore.”.He further went on record to state that instead of declaring liabilities as NPAs, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was “trying to help the defaulter with further defence contracts like the Rafale deal”..Commenting on the development, Singhvi stated,.“I am surprised and amused at the query. Firstly, the plaintiff has till date not even issued me a legal notice. Secondly, we have not received notice from the trial court either. Thirdly, I have neither seen the judgment of the trial court nor the paper book of the appeal. Fourthly, whatever I am hearing and reading is only in the press. .Fifthly, it is surprising that large sections of the press are reporting either a partial victory for the plaintiff or some kind of decision in his favour whereas all that has happened, as per press reports, that suit itself has been finally dismissed in my favour and a mere notice has been issued in an appellate proceeding. Lastly, a fitting reply shall be given to the plaintiff as and when the time comes and all his actions would be done at his own cost and consequence.”.On December 8, Principal Civil Senior judge at Rajula SS Joshi had returned the suit for want of jurisdiction, prompting Reliance Naval and Engineering to approach the High Court in appeal. In its appeal, the Reliance has challenged the trial court order as being “illegal, unjust, unreasonable, arbitrary, contrary to the provisions of law”..The appellant company has highlighted the fact that it has its manufacturing plant in Rajula, and therefore, part of the cause of action arose in Rajula, where the suit was rightly filed..It further points out that as per Section 19 of the Code of Civil Procedure, if the wrong was done within the local limits of the jurisdiction of one Court and the defendant resides within the local limits of the jurisdiction of another Court, the suit may be instituted at the option of the plaintiff in either of the said Courts. This, the appellant company claims, was overlooked by the civil judge..It further states,.“The Ld. Judge has committed a serious error in taking into account extraneous consideration of the upcoming Gujarat Legislature Elections and the statement being made by the Respondent who is a member of a political party against another political party.”.Therefore, the appellant has prayed that the civil court order be set aside..The matter will now come up for hearing before the High Court next Tuesday, December 26..Read the appeal:.Read the trial court order: