Bathinda: Occupied with the special session of assembly on Friday, chief minister Bhagwant Mann could not keep his date with a trial court in Mansa in a criminal defamation case.An application for exemption from personal hearing was filed on his behalf. The court allowed the application, exempted Mann from personal appearance for the day, and adjourned the matter to May 20. In the previous hearing on April 28, civil judge (senior division)/ACJM Rajinder Singh Nagpal was displeased that Mann hadn’t shown up for any court hearing since Oct 2022 and summoned him on May 1, warning that bail may be cancelled if he doesn’t.Mann’s counsel moved an application, stating that, as CM, he was busy with the special session of assembly and should be exempted from personal hearing. ACJM Rajinder Singh Nagpal has since been transferred, and the matter was heard by civil judge (senior division) Shilpa, who has taken charge.MSID:: 130677421 413 |
