IN A hard-hitting reply to the Supreme Court's contempt notice to her for allegedly raising objectionable slogans, Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar said she would help others raise their voice against the system, which deprives natural
resource-based communities.
“I will continue to challenge the unjust system that deprives common people, especially the natural resource-based communities who pay the price for the benefit of those who already have much more than them,” she said in her affidavit.
“I will continue to help them raise their voices in protest against this system even if I have to do so against the judiciary and the courts. I will continue to do so as long as I can, even if I have to be punished for contempt for doing that," Patkar
said.
She said the superior courts had shown a disturbing tendency to use the power of contempt against persons who have been criticising their judgements.
“A judiciary which insulates itself from criticism by using the power of contempt, is bound to become insensitive to the people that it is meant to serve. This does not bode well for the future of our republic," she said.
Three advocates had filed a contempt petition against Patkar, Arundhati Roy and advocate Prashant Bhushan for leading a dharna outside the SC gates and accused them of making objectionable slogans against the Court. The petition comes up for hearing
tomorrow.
