“Let ‘Re 1’ Be Nationwide Motion”

New Delhi:

Lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan, held responsible of contempt for his tweets criticising Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and the Supreme Court docket, was at this time fined Re 1 by the top court. The 63-year-old  has been requested to pay the positive by September 15, failing which he can both face jail for 3 months or a ban from training for 3 years.

“Freedom of speech can’t be curtailed,” mentioned the Supreme Court docket whereas handing down the sentence, referring to “sane recommendation” from Legal professional Common KK Venugopal to the court docket and to Prashant Bhushan.

The judgment drew immediate reactions from members of the authorized fraternity and politicians, most of whom praised the highest court docket for letting off the lawyer-activist with a “token punishment”.

“With out commenting on the deserves of the case, the court docket has proven maturity. It could have been higher if he had been forgiven. Court docket might have given him warning additionally however that is the very best state of affairs. However this can be a symbolic punishment, the minimal prescribed within the regulation. Court docket wished to indicate majesty of regulation is Supreme and a few punishment needed to be given as soon as discovered responsible. The punishment of Re 1 is token punishment and the remainder are default clauses,” former Chief Justice of India Justice RM Lodha instructed NDTV.

Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav, who labored with Prashant Bhushan within the Aaam Aadmi Social gathering earlier than they have been expelled from it, tweeted:

Let ‘Re 1’ be a nationwide motion#satyamevjayate#PrashantBhushan

– Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) August 31, 2020

Karti P Chidambaram, Congress MP and son of senior Congress chief P Chidambaram, in the meantime, provided to “contribute” in direction of the positive offered Mr Bhushan was prepared to pay it.

Je suis #PrashantBhushan. Completely satisfied to contribute in direction of your positive of Rs.1, in the event you select to pay. @pbhushan1

– Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) August 31, 2020

NCP chief Majeed Memon additionally praised the highest court docket judgment and urged Mr Bhushan to work collectively to “improve the glory and status of our courts”.

“Hail SC observations ” freedom of expression cannot be curtailed” . Therefore symbolic positive of ₹1 on Prashant Bhushan. Allow us to all hereafter, together with Mr Bhushan, work collectively to boost the glory and status of our courts,” he tweeted.

In the meantime, some BJP chief mentioned it was a “sensible” transfer by the court docket to make Mr Bhushan to confess his offence.

BJP chief Amit Malviya, in-charge of BJP’s nationwide Data & Expertise, in the meantime questioned whether or not Prashant Bhushan can pay the positive and admit to his offence or be “extra honourable” and danger jail sentence.

“Good of Supreme Court docket to impose a 1 rupee positive on Prashant Bhushan, failing which he could be barred from practising for three years and face jail time period of three months… Both method Bhushan loses. Will he pay the positive and admit to his offence or be extra honourable? Hobson’s selection!,” he tweeted.

“Rs 1 is louder than a punch of 1000’s of crore,” mentioned Mr Malviya’s  get together colleague and senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia saying that nobody was the regulation. “A slap of Rs 1 is louder than a punch of 1000’s of crore, this could have occurred a very long time again. Nobody is above the regulation. We’re all foot troopers of the establishment, the establishment is to be protected at any price,” Mr Bhatia tweeted.

“Test mate!!”, tweeted BJP chief Priti Gandhi with #ShowSomeSpineDontPayFine

So if Prashant Bhushan chooses to not pay the ₹1 positive imposed by the SC on him, he will likely be barred from practising regulation for three years & face jail time period of three months.

And if he pays the positive, it means he’s admitting to his offence!!

Test mate!!#ShowSomeSpineDontPayFine

– Priti Gandhi – प्रीति गांधी (@MrsGandhi) August 31, 2020

Shortly after the judgment, Prashant Bhushan, who was photographed holding up a Re 1 coin, instructed reporters he would reveal later at this time whether or not he would pay the positive or confront the opposite choices. The coin was handed to him by his lawyer Rajeev Dhavan after the order.