Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who was found guilty of contempt by the Apex Court, said that he will happily accept the Judgement, but would file a review.
“I propose to submit myself to this order & respectful pay the fine. But I reserve the right to seek the review of the conviction & sentencing,” Mr Bhushan said while reading from a statement at a press conference in New Delhi.
Bhushan was held guilty by the Supreme Court for criminal contempt of court on Aug 14 over his tweets against the Top Court & CJI SA Bobde.
Here is the full statement by Prashant Bhushan on Supreme Court’s verdict:
The Supreme Court of India has announced its verdict on the contempt case against me. It holds me guilty of contempt of court & has decided to impose a fine of Re 1, & failing that imprisonment of three months & debarring me from practicing for three years. I had already said in my first statement to the Court: “I am here to cheerfully submit to any penalty that can lawfully be inflicted upon me for what the Court has determined to be an offence, & what appears to me to be the highest duty of a citizen”. Therefore, while I reserve the right to seek a review of the conviction & sentencing, by way of an appropriate legal remedy, I propose to submit myself to this order & will respectfully pay the fine, just as I would have submitted to any other lawful punishment.
I have had the greatest respect for the institution of the Supreme Court. I have always believed it to be the last bastion of hope, particularly for the weak & the oppressed who knock at its door for the protection of their rights, often against a powerful executive. My tweets were not intended in any way to disrespect the Supreme Court or the judiciary as a whole, but were merely meant to express my anguish, at what I felt, was a deviation from its sterling past record. This issue was never about me versus the Hon’ble Judges, much less about me vs the Supreme Court. When the Supreme Court of India wins, every Indian wins. Every Indian wants a strong & independent judiciary. Obviously if the courts get weakened, it weakens the republic & harms every citizen.
I am extremely grateful & humbled by the solidarity & support expressed by countless persons, ex-judges, lawyers, activists & fellow citizens who encouraged me to remain firm & true to my beliefs & conscience. They strengthen my hope that this trial may draw the country’s attention to the cause of freedom of speech & judicial accountability & reform. What is very heartening is that this case has become a watershed moment for freedom of speech & seems to have encouraged many people to stand up & speak out against the injustices in our society.
I would be failing in my duty if I do not thank my legal team, especially senior Advocates Dr Rajeev Dhawan & Shri Dushyant Dave. I am more confident now than ever before that truth shall prevail.
Long live democracy! Satyameva Jayate!
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