AG Venugopal declines consent to initiate contempt proceedings against ex-Delhi HC judge, others

“It could also be noted that the Supreme Court, in a very sizable amount of judgements, has held that fair and reasonable criticism of a judicial proceedings wouldn't amount to contempt of court,” added Venugopal.

Attorney General K K Venugopal has declined his consent to initiate contempt of court of court proceedings against former Delhi judicature judge Justice S N Dhingra and senior advocates Aman Lekhi and K Rama Kumar for comments on the observations by a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court within the Nupur Sharma case.

Venugopal said that their “statements…are within the realm of fair inquire into a hearing conducted” by the highest court. The country’s top peace officer told advocate C R Jaya Sukin, who had sought his consent, that the “statements aren't vituperative or abusive nor are they likely to interfere with the administration of justice by the Supreme Court of India”.

“It could also be noted that the Supreme Court, in a very sizable amount of judgements, has held that fair and reasonable criticism of a judicial proceedings wouldn't amount to contempt of court,” added Venugopal.

“I am not satisfied that the criticism made by the three persons named in your letter is with malice or is an endeavor to impair the administration of justice, or that it absolutely was a deliberate and motivated try to bring down the image of the judiciary,” he also said.

While hearing Nupur Sharma’s plea seeking clubbing of the multiple FIRs against her in numerous states for remarks against the Prophet during a program, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and J B Pardiwala had on Dominion Day come down heavily on the previous BJP spokesperson.

They said she features a “loose tongue” and is “single-handedly accountable for what's happening within the country” including in Udaipur where a tailor was hacked to death recently for allegedly sharing Nupur Sharma’s remarks.