Prashant Bhushan Contempt Case: SC Reserves Verdict On Quantum Of Sentence, Says 'Not Right Behaviour'

Lawyer Prashant Bhushan has been held guilty of contempt of court for his derogatory tweets in attempt to criticise the CJI SA Bobde and the Indian Judiciary.

(File Photo/ Getty)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on the quantum of sentence to be given to lawyer Prashant Bhushan who 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. A three-judge bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra, B.R. Gavai and Krishna Murari stated that "when somebody like Bhushan, with experience of over 30 years, says something then people tend to believe him and think whatever Bhushan is saying is correct." As quoted in an IANS report, the bench noted that "judges are condemned and their families are humiliated. They cannot even speak." It is pertinent to note that on August 20, the apex court had reserved its order on the suo motu criminal contempt of court proceedings against Prashant Bhushan but had asked him to reconsider the statement and submit his unconditional apology by August 24. In a supplementary reply in the suo motu proceedings, Bhushan stated that if he retracts his statement before the court that he otherwise believes to be true would amount to the contempt of his conscience in his eyes. Hence he refused to offer an apology to the Supreme Court. Bhushan, who is a public interest lawyer in the Supreme Court of India, is under the scanner for two of his tweets, the first one posted on June 29 about picture of CJI Bobde on a high-end bike; and the second one about his opinion on the role of last four CJIs amid the state of affairs in the country.