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T L Garg in New Delhi
Noted author Khushwant Singh on Tuesday received permission from the Delhi high court to publish his autobiography that had faced a ban for nearly six years.
The court, however, ruled that it would continue to hear a suit for damages filed by Union Culture Minister Maneka Gandhi against the writer, contending that the book defamed her family.
Singh was awarded Rs 10,000 as costs for the delay in the publication of the autobiography.
"The appellant has been prevented from writing and publishing his thoughts, views, personal interactions and his perspective of life in his proposed autobiography for almost six years at this late stage of his life," a division bench of the court comprising judges Devinder Gupta and Sanjay Kishan Kaul noted.
Maneka Gandhi had obtained an injunction against the publication of the autobiography, Truth, Love and a Little Malice, from the high court on December 16, 1995.
The court ruled, "The truth (of Gandhi's contention) will be decided in the claims for damages and the malice, whether little or more, would also be determined at the stage of trial."
It noted, "Both sides will have the opportunity to substantiate their averments, determining their respective claims in the claim of damages."
Gandhi contended that a chapter in the book, titled Gandhis and Anands, defamed her and her family.
Maneka Gandhi nee Anand, is the widow of former prime minister Indira Gandhi's younger son, Sanjay Gandhi, who was killed in an air crash in June 1980.
Gandhi claimed that the chapter contained 'derogatory comments' against her and her family and that she wanted its publication prevented 'to protect the fair name and respect' of her family.
The high court had on April 29, 1997, dismissed Singh's plea for withdrawing the stay order. He then filed another appeal in the court.
The court noted, "The preview of the proposed autobiography, stated to be an authorised version, was published in the October 31, 1995 edition of India Today (newsmagazine)."
The court also regretted that 'almost six years have passed'.
"The book could have been published possibly soon after, in 1995," the court said.
Indo-Asian News Service
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