Mumbai | The Bombay High Court on Tuesday effectively sidelined a defamation suit until 2046, labelling the 2017 litigation an "ego fight" between parties at the "fag end of their lives" and criticised their persistence in litigation that prevents it from prioritising more urgent matters.

The HC noted that this was one of the matters where the "ego fight" between the parties at the fag end of their lives "clogs the system", preventing the court from taking up cases which requires priority.

A bench of Justice Jitendra Jain made the remarks while hearing a defamation suit filed in 2017 by an elderly woman, Tarinibahen Desai, against another senior citizen Kilkilraj Bhansali.

It noted that on earlier occasions too, the court had said the case could be worked out if parties tendered their unconditional apologies.

However, Desai, who is close to 90, still insisted to pursue the suit for defamation.

Irked with this, the court on Tuesday said the matter shall be listed after 2046 and emphasised that it shall not be given priority on the ground that the petitioner is a "senior citizen or a super senior citizen".

"I do not wish to state anything further except that this matter should not be taken up for the next 20 years. It is expressly made clear that this matter will not be taken up for hearing before 2046," Justice Jain said.