India, April 2 -- A Delhi court on Wednesday upheld a metropolitan magistrate's order convicting 69-year-old social activist Medha Patkar in a criminal defamation case filed by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.

Additional sessions judge Vishal Singh of Saket court, however, deferred the pronouncement of the sentence as Patkar was not present in the court.

The judge clarified that the sentence could not be enhanced since the Delhi Police had not preferred a plea for it and that it could only maintain or reduce it.

"The appeal has been dismissed, the conviction stands but for sentencing, the appellant has to appear in person. In order to receive sentence, the convict must be present in court. What is impugned is the judgement...