Prashant Bhushan Case: SC Gives Lawyer 2-3 Days To Reconsider Statement Refusing To Apologise

The senior lawyer has been held guilty of contempt of court for his derogatory tweets in attempt to criticise the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde and the Indian Judiciary.

(File Photos/ Getty)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday gave lawyer Prashant Bhushan two days to “reconsider his defiant statement” refusing to apologise. The senior lawyer has been held guilty of contempt of court for his derogatory tweets in attempt to criticise the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde and the Indian Judiciary. Earlier today, the top court had declined lawyer Prashant Bhushan's submission on hearing on quantum of sentence in the contempt case, where Bhushan has been held guilty for making derogatory statements through tweets against the judiciary, by another bench. A bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra, BR Gavai and Krishna Murari told Bhushan and his legal team, "You are asking for an act of impropriety by making submissions that the argument on sentencing in the contempt case should be heard by another bench." Bhushan seeks to file the review within 30 days from the date of judgment, as he is entitled under the law. To this, the bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra assured that no punishment will be acted upon till his review against the order convicting him in the case will be decided. On August 14, a three judge bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra, BR Gavai, and Krishna Murari passed the order holding Bhushan guilty of contempt of court for his derogatory tweets in attempt to criticise CJI SA Bobde and the Indian Judiciary. The bench in its verdict last week had stated: "We are, prima facie, of the view that the aforesaid statements on Twitter have brought the administration of justice in disrepute and are capable of undermining the dignity and authority of the Institution of Supreme Court in general and the office of the Chief Justice of India in particular, in the eyes of public at large." The on-going hearings are in connection with the two tweets posted by Bhushan - one against the Supreme Court on June 27, and one against the CJI Bobde on June 29.