The Delhi High Court has encouraged All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saket Gokhale and former diplomat Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri to settle their ongoing defamation case out of court. The court suggested that both parties, being respected public figures, should attempt to resolve the dispute amicably, considering the heavy burden on the courts.

The case originates from a series of tweets made by Gokhale in 2021, in which he questioned Puri's purchase of an apartment in Geneva, Switzerland, and alleged that she had purchased property in Switzerland disproportionate to her income. Puri claimed that Gokhale's tweets were defamatory, malicious, and based on false information, damaging her reputation and goodwill.

In July 2024, a single-judge bench of the Delhi High Court ruled in favor of Puri, decreeing the defamation suit and directing Gokhale to pay ₹50 lakh in damages and publish an apology in The Times of India newspaper and on his X (formerly Twitter) handle. Gokhale challenged this judgment, and Puri subsequently filed petitions seeking execution of the decision and contempt of court action against Gokhale for non-compliance.

During the recent hearing, a division bench comprising Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar noted that Gokhale had already tendered an apology, which Puri had accepted. The court then proposed a meeting between the parties to facilitate a settlement. "You're in public life, respected public figures. If both parties can see, sit together and try to resolve the dispute…Please take into consideration courts are already over flooded," the bench stated.

Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, representing Puri, initially opposed the settlement suggestion, highlighting Gokhale's conduct before the single judge during execution and contempt proceedings. He pointed out that Gokhale had made a contentious tweet about the judgment the day after the apology. However, both Singh and Senior Advocate Amit Sibal, appearing for Gokhale, agreed to discuss the possibility of a settlement with their respective clients.

The court also addressed the attachment of Gokhale's property in relation to the damages owed to Puri, clarifying that the enforcement of the previous order would remain in place pending further developments.

The High Court's call for an out-of-court settlement reflects a desire to reduce the burden on the judicial system and encourage amicable resolutions between parties, especially those in public life. The case is now at a critical juncture, with both parties considering the court's suggestion and exploring potential avenues for a mutually acceptable resolution.