SC imposes Re 1 fine on Prashant Bhushan for committing contempt

14:16 August 31

Taking to his Twitter handle, Prashant Bhushan said: "My lawyer & senior colleague Rajiv Dhavan contributed 1 Re immediately after the contempt judgement today which I gratefully accepted."

12:20 August 31

The Supreme Court imposed a token fine of Re 1 against activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan in the contempt case for his tweets against the judiciary. The amount needs to be deposited by September 15 or else Bhushan will have to undergo 3 months of sentence and will also be debarred for 3 years from his practice.

New Delhi:The Supreme Court has imposed fine of Rs 1 on Advocate Prashant Bhushan on Monday in the contempt case over his tweets against the sitting Chief Justice of India and his four predecessors. 

The amount needs to be deposited by September 15 or else Bhushan will have to undergo 3 months of sentence and will also be debarred for 3 years from his practice.

The bench comprising of Justice Ashok Bhushan, Justice BR Gavai and Justice Krishna Murari gave their verdict against the suo moto contempt case against the advocate after he refused to tender an apology for his tweets.

Prashant Bhushan had tweeted against CJI SA Bobde for sitting on a luxurious motorcycle owned by a BJP leader. For other past 4 CJI, Bhushan had tweeted that they destroyed democracy.

The top court had asked Bhushan to tender an apology so that the matter can be settled within the bar and the bench but Bhushan had refused to do so and instead had issued a statement of regret for hurting anyone's sentiments.

The court said today that ultimately they have taken the advice of Attorney General, KK Venugopal. During the hearing, AG had suggested to let off Bhushan with a warning. Conduct of the present contemnor also needs to be taken into consideration, added the court.

While giving its verdict, the court said that they have discussed earlier judgements on contempt and procedure to be adopted and concluded that it is the responsibility of all concerned courts that decision should not be prompted by a publication of the public decision. 

Freedom of expressions exists but others' rights should also be respected, ordered the court.

Slamming Prashant Bhushan, the court said that it gave an option to him to apologise but instead he gave wide publicity to his statements.

Following is the chronology of events in which the Supreme Court on Monday imposed a token fine of Re 1on activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan in a contempt case, which will have to be paid by September 15

• Jun 27: Bhushan tweets about the undeclared emergency in the country and the role of the Supreme Court and last four chief justices of India.
• Jun 29: Bhushan tweets about Chief Justice SA Bobde trying a Harley Davidson super-bike in his hometown Nagpur during the coronavirus outbreak.
• Jul 22: SC initiates contempt proceedings against Bhushan after taking note of a complaint filed by a lawyer in this regard; issues notice to him
• Aug 14: SC holds Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt for his both tweets 'against the judiciary'.
• Aug 24: Bhushan files a response refusing to apologise to the SC while hearing argument of point of quantum of sentence.
• Aug 25: Attorney General KK Venugopal urges SC to Bhushan off the hook.
• SC once again asks Bhushan to apologies. He refuses.
• SC reserves judgment on Bhushan's sentencing.
• Aug 31: SC imposes fine of Re 1 on Bhushan, to be paid by September 15; default to lead to 3-month-jail term, debarment from practice in the apex court for 3 years.