After more than a year of mud-slinging and a barrage of allegations between IAS officer Rohini Sindhuri (2009-batch) and IPS officer D Roopa Moudgil (2009-batch), a Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Pankaj Mithal of the Supreme Court of India ordered the two bureaucrats to explore a settlement reminding them that they were “public functionaries” and should refrain from such conduct.
The Bench observed, “Both of them are young officers, their career will be affected if this fight goes on.” They further said, “To help the situation, if both of you agree (speaking to the lawyers of the bureaucrats), we can record in the order that since allegations are withdrawn, the State should not precipitate the matter by starting something on the basis of allegations made (by them) against each other.”
The contentious issue arose after they failed to resolve differences arising from allegedly defamatory remarks made by the women officers against each other. On February 21st (2023), Ms. Sindhuri issued a legal notice to Ms. Moudgil and demanded an unconditional apology and Rs. 1 crore in damages for “the loss of her reputation and mental agony.”
On March 24th, a Bengaluru court, that was hearing the private suit filed by Ms. Sindhuri, ordered the initiation of a criminal defamation case against Ms. Moudgil, who then moved the High Court to have the same quashed. On August 21st, the Karnataka High Court rejected her plea.
High Court judge Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum observed that Officer Moudgil’s statements on her social media account and print media warranted a criminal trial. She then approached the apex court.
IAS officer Ms. Rohini Sindhuri was represented by senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, who told the court that attempts to resolve the conflict between the two female officers have failed. Additionally, advocate Sidharth Luthra told the court that the IPS officer makes press statements criticizing the IAS officer on a daily basis.
The Supreme Court had previously expressed its opinion on the matter, stating that such issues between public servants were best resolved between themselves and directing the IAS and IPS officers “to work out a solution which will be in the interest of both of them.”
