Pay Re 1 As Fine Or Go To Jail : Supreme Court To Prashant Bhushan

On Aug 31, 2020

New Delhi: Activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan was convicted for contempt of court over his two tweets against the judiciary. The Supreme Court has asked Prashant Bhushan, who was held guilty for his tweets against the judiciary, to pay a fine of Rupee 1 by September 15 as punishment in contempt case. In case Prashant Bhushan fails to deposit the fine of Re 1, the activist-lawyer will have to undergo sentence for three months and will be debarred from practise for three months, the Supreme Court said on Monday as it pronounced its verdict on the quantum of sentence. Prashant Bhushan was convicted by the SC earlier this month for contempt of court over his two tweets against the judiciary.

The activist-lawyer repeatedly rejected suggestions from the court for an apology, saying it would be contempt of his conscience. Following this, senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan had urged the Supreme Court to show “judicial statesmanship” and not make Bhushan a “martyr” by punishing him for contempt over his tweets criticising the judiciary.

Supreme Court imposes a fine of Re 1 fine on Prashant Bhushan. In case of default, he will be barred from practising for 3 years & will be imprisoned of 3 months https://t.co/0lMbqiizBb
— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2020

The Supreme Court on August 14 had held Prashant 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. On August 25, Dhavan, representing Bhushan, had suggested that the top court recall the August 14 verdict convicting him for contempt of court and not impose any sentence and urged it to not only close the case but also to bring an end to the controversy.

Attorney General K K Venugopal requested the court to forgive Bhushan with a message that he should not repeat this act.