Fine or imprisonment? SC to pronounce Prashant Bhushan’s punishment in contempt case today

New Delhi: The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce on Monday its verdict on the quantum of sentence to be awarded to activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan, convicted for contempt of court over his two tweets against the judiciary.

Also read: Former US President Abraham Lincoln’s hair and bloodstained telegram up for auction

A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra will pronounce its verdict against Bhushan, who faces simple imprisonment of up to six months or with a fine of up to Rs 2,000 or with both as punishment under Contempt of Court Act.

Also read: Rare: Terrorist surrender during J&K encounter, 4 other terrorists killed

On August 25, the top court was urged by senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan to show “judicial statesmanship” and not make Bhushan a “martyr” by punishing him for contempt over his tweets criticising the judiciary, after the activist-lawyer rejected fresh suggestions from the court for an apology.

Also read: No shortage of domestic LPG in NE: Indian Oil

As the top court reserved its verdict on the sentence to be awarded to Bhushan, Justice Arun Mishra, who presided over a three-judge bench, at the fag end of the nearly three-hour-long hearing had asked why he cannot seek an apology and what was wrong in using this word.

Justice Mishra is demitting office on September 2.

The apex court on August 14 had held Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt for his two derogatory tweets against the judiciary saying they cannot be said to be a fair criticism of the functioning of the judiciary made in the public interest.

The post Fine or imprisonment? SC to pronounce Prashant Bhushan’s punishment in contempt case today appeared first on Prag News.

from Prag News https://ift.tt/3b89B20
via IFTTT