Prashant Bhushan (Reuters file)
Prashant Bhushan must pay the fine by September 15 or he will be imprisoned for 3 months and banned from practicing for 3 years.
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- Last update: August 31, 2020 12:43 PM IST
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On Monday, the Supreme Court imposed a symbolic Re 1 sentence on activist and lawyer Prashant Bhushan as punishment in the criminal contempt case.
A bank headed by Judge Arun Mishra said that Bhushan must deposit Re 1 before September 15.
If the attorney fails to do so, he will be jailed for 3 months, in addition to being disqualified from the practice for a period of 3 years.
The court, which also includes judges BR Gavai and Krishna Murari, said a sentencing order was imperative in the given circumstances.
The court agreed with the allegations of Attorney General KK Venugopal that severe punishment or jail time need not be imposed on Bhushan in view of his contribution as a lawyer.
The bank, in its order, noted that Bhushan chose not to apologize or express regret despite repeated opportunities.
He was arrested for making statements in the press about contempt proceedings and leaking his statements even before they were considered by the court.
He said court decisions should not be advanced by anyone through publications and public discussions.
On August 14, the court found Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt. He then argued that the magnanimity of judges cannot be stretched to become a weakness against “a malicious and calculated attack on the judiciary.”
“The defamatory / malicious attacks of the alleged contender No.1 (Bhushan) are not only against one or two judges, but against the entire Supreme Court in its operation of the last six years. An attack of this type that tends to generate disaffection and lack of respect for the authority of this Court can not be ignored. The alleged contemnor has tried to scandalize the entire institution of the Supreme Court, “said the conviction order.
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