The Delhi High Court today refused to stay the trial court's summonses to three Army officers on Lt General (Retd) Tejinder Singh's criminal defamation complaint accusing them of misusing their official positions and power to level false allegations against him. Disposing of the pleas of Vice Chief of Army Staff S K Singh, Major General S L Narshiman and Lt Col Hitten Sawhney against the trial court, Justice Bhasin asked the three officers to raise before the magisterial court their

contentions that prior sanctions for their prosecution was not
obtained.The court also clarified in its order that the magistrate can hear the issue of sanction after the petitioners appear before it on the date fixed by it.It also granted liberty to the petitioners to seek appropriate remedy if the magistrate refuses to hear their pleas or passes any adverse order against them.