While pronouncing the sentence to Prashant Bhushan, the SC Bench hailed “sane advice” from AG and said, “Freedom of Speech cannot be curtailed.”
New Delhi| Putting an end to the dragged Contempt of Court case against activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan, the Supreme Court of India fined him for Rs 1. However, if he fails to pay Rs 1 by September 15, he may face three months Jail term and three years or three years ban on the practice. Prashant Bhushan was held guilty of Contempt of Court on August 14, over his two tweets criticizing CJI SA Bobde and last four CJIs.
While pronouncing the sentence, the Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra referred to Attorney General KK Venugopal’s advice of letting Bhushan go without punishment. Calling it sane advice from AG, the bench said, “Freedom of Speech cannot be curtailed.”
Also Read: “Cannot Force An Apology”: Prashant Bhushan’s Lawyer Tells Supreme Court
Earlier, Bhushan despite insistence by the presiding judge of the bench hearing the matter-Justice Arun Mishra, had refused to tender an unconditional apology. Though Attorney General KK Venugopal and Senior Advocate Rajeev Dhawan asked the bench to hold him guilty in contempt but not sentence him any punishment, the court remained firm on its stand. “We don’t want to make him a martyr by punishing him,” said Dhawan during the sentencing hearing.
The Supreme Court had held Bhushan guilty of his contempt at the beginning of the month and reserved the judgment. The court last week granted Bhushan chance for an unconditional apology, but he refused. Bhushan had said that if he apologized, it would be a “Contempt of his conscience.”
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
