Justice B.S. Roy, who heard the Ex Parte application yesterday issued by Attorney-at-Law Ms Priya Manickchand, granted the interim injunction sought.

The injunction restrains the defendants and each and everyone of them whether by themselves, their servants and or agents or otherwise, whosoever or howsoever from further publishing the said or similar libel.

It was granted by the judge in Chambers on the basis of an affidavit in support by Dr Luncheon, who claimed that the libel concerning him was published on December 12, 2002 at or about seven o'clock in the morning on the television programme, "The Sunrise Show" hosted by Clem David on CNS Channel 6.

As a consequence, the plaintiff is seeking an injunction restraining the defendants from printing or publishing any other further defamatory statement of and concerning the plaintiff.

According to Dr Luncheon's application in support of the injunction:

"The statements spoken and published by the defendants were calculated to disparage me in my office and I have in consequence been gravely injured in my character, standing and reputation and I have been brought into public scandal and contempt.

"Further the said statement spoken and published by the defendants have resulted in lowering me in the estimation of right-thinking members of society generally and have caused me to be shunned and avoided and have exposed me to hatred and ridicule.

"I believe that the first-named defendant is in a campaign to smear my good character and to cause me to be shunned and avoided and to expose me to hatred, public scandal, contempt and ridicule.”

The summons was made returnable for December 24, 2002, when it is expected the defendants would appear in Court and ask for leave to file an affidavit in answer.

Dec 18, 02