SC seeks Centre's response on plea of former RAW officer

The Supreme Court today sought a response from the Centre on a plea of woman lawyer and former RAW officer seeking withdrawal of a press release, posted on PIB website, that she allegedly had some mental problems.
"Petitioner (Nisha Priya Bhatia) has filed this petition. She has submitted that this court should direct the respondent (Centre and others) to withdraw the press release.
"A copy of this petition has been served on the Solicitor General. He shall file the reply within three weeks. The rejoinder be filed a week thereafter," a bench of justices Dipak Misra and U U Lalit said and fixed the plea for further hearing on December 15.

During the hearing, Bhatia, 52, said the press release is "defamatory" and "false" and the Centre be directed to take it back forthwith.
"It has been creating social trouble for my daughters. I have two daughters. Who will marry them?)," she said.
Initially, the court suggested to Bhatia that it may ask the Delhi High Court to decide her plea against the loss of job and keep the petition against the press release pending. She, however, did not agree to it.

The former intelligence officer had recently been in controversy for filing a PIL against the Chief Justice of India H L Dattu. The plea was dismissed by the High Court.

In a strongly-worded order, the High Court had said a perusal of the petition and the annexures would evince a strong belief held by the petitioner (Bhatia) that her employer has wronged her and it is a trait of such persons who strongly believe that they are wronged by others to target all those whom they think are wrong in not accepting what they say.
The court is at present hearing arguments on framing of charges in the case which is fixed for December 5.
The court had on October 30 dismissed as withdrawn Devendra's similar plea on behalf of another company seeking permission to go to Sweden after his counsel informed it that his meeting for business purpose has been cancelled.

Bhatia was compulsorily retired from service for security reasons after her identity became public in 2009.
She was in news for her alleged attempt to commit suicide before the PMO after alleging sexual harassment by her senior officers in 2008 and due to disclosure of her identity as a RAW officer she was compulsory retired.
The former officer has been fighting various court cases.