The Supreme Court issued a notice asking the secretary who wrote the letter, why not to take contempt of court action against him. The bench has given two weeks to reply to the notice.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Secretary of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Secretariat in the privilege breach case against Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami of Republic TV asking why not to initiate contempt of court proceedings against him.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde issued a contempt notice when senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Arnab, conveyed that the Secretary of the Secretariat had written a letter to Arnab on October 30 that he had violated the condition of confidentiality.
According to Mr. Salve, in a letter written on behalf of the Secretary of Maharashtra Legislative Secretariat, it was said that Arnab was told that the proceedings are confidential, but he (Arnab) informed the Supreme Court without the permission of the Speaker.
Taking cognizance of this, Justice Bobde asked, ‘What is Article 32 of the Constitution for? This letter of the Secretary is a violation of the fundamental rights of a citizen because, through the letter, an attempt was made to intimidate the person concerned by knocking on the door of the court. It comes under the category of contempt of court.’
After this, the court issued a notice asking the secretary who wrote the letter, why not to take contempt of court action against him. The bench has given two weeks to reply to the notice.
Meanwhile, Arnab will not be arrested in this case. The Supreme Court has appointed senior advocate Arvind Datar as amicus curiae in this case.
[Hams Live]