Prashant Bhushan, sentenced for contempt, ought to be excused: Attorney General to SC
Attorney General K Venugopal on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan, sentenced for contempt, needs to be forgiven.
- “Prashant Bhushan has freedom of speech, but says he will not tender an apology for contempt”, said the SC
- The court had given Bhushan time however he would not apologize.
The Attorney General advised the SC, "The court should warn Prashant Bhushan and take a compassionate view." "Prashant Bhushan has the right to speak freely of discourse, but says he won't tender an apology for contempt", stated the SC.
SC also stated, “A person should realize his mistake; we gave Bhushan time, but he says he will not apologize. The court can speak only through its orders; even in his affidavit, Prashant Bhushan made disparaging remarks.”
The highest court Bench asked the AG, "Prashant Bhushan says the SC has collapsed, is it not shocking."
#JusticeMishra : Tell us, what is wrong in using the word apology? What is wrong in seeking apology? Will that be reflection of guilt? Apology is a magical word, which can heal many things. I am talking generally and not talking about Prashant.
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) August 25, 2020
Prashant Bhushan had on Monday wouldn't apologize for his derisive tweets outraging the judiciary and asked the Supreme Court to review its August 14 request convicting him for contempt of court. In an ongoing declaration filed in prime court, a rebellious Bhushan had expressed an insincere statement of regret would amount to "contempt of my conscience, and of a foundation that I hold in the highest esteem".
An apology for expression of beliefs, restrictive or unrestricted, could be insincere, Bhushan had expressed in a two-page assertion filed inside the court docket. In the meantime, another Supreme Court seat will hear the 2009 contempt case against Bhushan from one month from now as Justice Arun Mishra retires in the first week of September. The bench headed by Justice Mishra said the issue will be listed before a fitting bench on September 10 as they seem to be 'short of time'.
