SC Holds Prashant Bhushan Guilty Of Contempt For Tweets Against Chief Justice, Judiciary

The top court has scheduled the next hearing for August 20 when it will announce the quantum of punishment.

Lawyer Prashant Bhushan addresses a press conference in New Delhi. (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday held advocate Prashant Bhushan 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 judge bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra, B.R. Gavai, and Krishna Murari passed the order earlier today holding Bhushan guilty. The top court has scheduled the next hearing for August 20 when it will announce the quantum of punishment. The hearing was 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. Following this, Bhushan was served notice by the apex court on July 22. The bench asked Bhushan and Twitter to file a reply by August 5. The top court also asked the Attorney General to assist it on the matter. During the hearing on August 5, the apex court had reserved its verdict in the matter after Bhushan defended his two alleged tweets saying they were against the judges regarding their conduct in their personal capacity and they did not obstruct administration of justice. An IANS report quoted the Supreme Court saying as, "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." Last year in 2019, once again Bhushan was part of controversy for tweeting that the government had perhaps submitted to the apex court fabricated documents of the high-powered selection panel on the appointment of interim CBI chief.