Warrants against Prabhu Chawla, Tavleen Singh

A court in Ujjain on Friday issued arrest warrants against India Today editor Prabhu Chawla and writer Tavleen Singh for their non-appearance before it during hearing of a case on use of defamatory words in a write-up.

Chief Judicial Magistrate R K Gupta gave the direction while rejecting their plea for exemption from personal appearance.

The court was hearing a petition moved by Ujjain Bar Association president Yogesh Vyas and others claiming that a write-up -- Katghare Mein Nyay Vyavastha [Judicial System Under Trial] -- published in a March 1999 edition of the magazine carried "defamatory" words against judges and lawyers.

Vyas, in his petition, had claimed that the remarks were "insulting" to the legal fraternity, including the members of the judiciary.