THE SUPREME Court today termed as "contemptuous" the tenor of the affidavits Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar and celebrated writer Arundhati Roy have filed in response to the court's notices on a contempt petition.
Taking serious note of the affidavits, the court asked additional solicitor general Altaf Ahmed to suggest the course of action in the case. A bench comprising Justice G. B. Pattanaik and Justice U. C. Banerjee said: "The tenor of the affidavits may itself
be contemptuous."
However, Patkar, Roy and lawyer Prashant Bhushan have denied charges that they made derogatory remarks against the court in December last year. They were issued notices on the petition by several lawyers for allegedly raising derogatory slogans against the
apex court during a dharna outside the premises.
They were protesting against the court's directions for the construction of the controversial Narmada dam. Dealing with the case, the bench noted that there were two options open before it: to drop the proceedings in view of the respondents' denial of the
charges or probe the incident.
The court, however, sought the assistance of the Additional Solicitor General in the matter. Turning to the lawyers who had filed the petition, the bench observed that if the charges were found to be false, they "may also be sent to jail".
Representing Bhushan, former law minister Ram Jethmalani pointed out that the Supreme Court's registry should not have accepted the "defective petition".
In her affidavit, Roy said: "It indicates a disquieting inclination on the part of the court to silence criticism and muzzle dissent, to harass and intimidate those who disagree with it. By entertaining a petition based on an FIR that even a local police
station does not see fit to act upon, the Supreme Court is doing its own reputation and credibility considerable harm.
"As a free citizen of India, I have the right to be part of any peaceful dharna, demonstration or protest march. I have the right to criticise any judgement of any court that I believe to be unjust," she said. Speaking to media persons outside the court,
Patkar said: "We want to finish the matter as early as possible."
Accompanied by scores of supporters, Patkar and Roy marched towards the court this morning to appear for the case. Posting the case for the first week of August for further hearing, the court exempted Patkar, Roy and Bhushan from personal appearance till
further orders.
