New Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday took serious note of absence of Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activist Medha Patkar during proceedings in cross defamation cases filed by her and the head of an Ahmedabad-based NGO and asked them to reach a compromise through mediation.

Metropolitan Magistrate Vasundhra Chhaunkar took note of the submission made by V K Saxena, president of NGO National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL), that Patkar was deliberately delaying the court and mediation proceedings by staying absent or coming late.