SC frames two questions for consideration in Prashant Bhushan contempt case
Satya Prakash
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 17
The Supreme Court on Monday framed two questions for its consideration in an 11-year-old criminal contempt case against activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan.
The two questions framed by Justice Arun Mishra are: Whether statements on ‘judicial corruption’ can be made in public and under what circumstances they be made; and the procedure to be adopted if such statements of corruption are made in public against sitting as well as retired judges.
Editorial: Contempt of court: Need to invoke jurisdiction with greater circumspection
On Behalf of Bhushan, senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan termed the questions as “very meaningful”.
Dhavan wanted the top court to refer the questions to a larger Bench and give a quietus to the case against Bhushan.
The Bench posted the matter for further hearing on August 24.
Ahead of the critical hearing on Monday, Bhushan had contended before the Supreme Court that allegations of corruption per se can’t be per se contempt of court.
In a written submission filed in the top court, Bhushan, who has already been held guilty of Contempt of Court in another case relating to his controversial tweets against CJI SA Bobde, had made it clear that he would invoke truth as his defence.
The Supreme Court had on August 10 decided to go ahead with criminal contempt proceedings Bhushan as it refused to accept his ‘regret’ in connection with his 2009 statement allegedly scandalising the judiciary.
The top court, on Friday, had held him guilty of contempt of court for his tweets against CJI SA Bobde and four former CJIs, saying public confidence in courts can’t be allowed to be impaired by malicious attacks on them. A three-judge Bench led by Justice Mishra will hear arguments on sentence on August 20.
