CELEBRATED AUTHOR Arundhati Roy and Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar on Thursday stood by their "contemptuous" remarks in the affidavits they had filed in response to the Supreme Court's notices on a contempt petition. Roy even dared the
Apex Court to proceed against her if it found her remarks "contemptuous".
Addressing a Bench comprising Justice G B Pattanaik and Justice Ruma Pal, Roy said: "I stand by my affidavit. If you find it( the affidavit) contemptuous, please proceed against me." She was responding to Justice Pattanaik's observations that some portions
of her affidavit were derogatory.
Patkar took similar position through her counsel Shanti Bhushan. If the Bench thought that his client had made adverse remarks against the court, she could be sent to jail, Bhushan argued.
On April 23, the Court had taken serious note of the tenor of the affidavits and asked Additional Solicitor General Altaf Ahmed to suggest the course of action in the case.
After hearing at length counsel representing the respondents the Bench reserved its order on the contempt petition.
The petition filed by several lawyers has sought action against the respondents for allegedly raising derogatory slogans against the Supreme Court.
In December last year, Roy, Patkar, Prashant Bhushan had protested against the Supreme Court's order for the construction of the Narmada dam. They, however, denied charges that they raised slogans against the Court during the dharna outside the SC
premises.
The Court, while issuing notices to them, had said if the charges were found to be false, the lawyers, who filed the petition, may also be sent to jail.
