SC issues contempt notice against Katju
New Delhi,Nov 12, 2016, DHNS:
In a first, the Supreme Court on Friday issued a contempt notice to its former judge, Justice Markandey Katju, for scandalising the judiciary by using “intemperate” language in his blog.
Justice Katju, who appeared before a three-judge bench presided over by Justice Ranjan Gogoi to explain his criticism of the judgement in the Soumya rape and murder case, was annoyed particularly when the apex court, after dismissing the review petition, went on to issue a contempt notice against him.
This led to an ugly verbal spat between Justice Katju and the bench, which at one point threatened to send him outside the courtroom. “I am not scared of it. Don’t give me a threat,” Justice Katju protested against the issuance of the notice.
“Mr Gogoi, you are provoking me. This is not the way to treat me. Don’t try to threaten me. Don’t act funny. I came here because of your request, out of respect. Am I to be treated like this?” he asked angrily.
To this, Justice Gogoi shot back, “You are provoking us. Your blog post is an assault, not only on me, but on the other judges on the bench.”
Justice Katju, who appeared before a three-judge bench presided over by Justice Ranjan Gogoi to explain his criticism of the judgement in the Soumya rape and murder case, was annoyed particularly when the apex court, after dismissing the review petition, went on to issue a contempt notice against him.
This led to an ugly verbal spat between Justice Katju and the bench, which at one point threatened to send him outside the courtroom. “I am not scared of it. Don’t give me a threat,” Justice Katju protested against the issuance of the notice.
“Mr Gogoi, you are provoking me. This is not the way to treat me. Don’t try to threaten me. Don’t act funny. I came here because of your request, out of respect. Am I to be treated like this?” he asked angrily.
To this, Justice Gogoi shot back, “You are provoking us. Your blog post is an assault, not only on me, but on the other judges on the bench.”
As Justice Katju again asked if he was to be treated like this, Justice Gogoi said, “Is there someone to escort Justice Katju (out)?” This caused a group of lawyers to shout “wrong, wrong”.
After the court’s notice on October 17, Justice Katju appeared before the bench, also comprising Justices P C Pant and U U Lalit, to say, “It is not that judges are born not to commit mistakes. I have also made several mistakes as a judge.”
The bench retorted, “Please don’t remind us about that. We know we are not infallible. You please tell us where have we committed mistakes in this (Soumya case) judgement.”
Justice Katju had claimed the judges did not apply “common sense” to conclude that the convict was not guilty of murder as the victim herself jumped out of a slow-running train after being sexually assaulted in 2011.
Unconvinced with Justice Katju’s plea, the bench dismissed the review petition against the September 15 ruling, acquitting Govindachamy of murder charge and sentencing him to life imprisonment for rape.
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