AG Refuses Sanction For Contempt Action Against Retired HC Judge & 2 Senior Advocates For Comments On SC In Nupur Sharma Case

The Attorney General for India KK Venugopal refused to grant sanction to initiate criminal contempt action against former High Court judge Justice SN Dhingra and Senior Advocates Aman Lekhi and K Ramakumar for their comments criticising the Supreme Court's remarks in Nupur Sharma case.

The AG declined the sanction sought by Advocate CR Jaya Skin, who alleged that the comments were contemptous in nature.

The AG said that the comments made by the persons were in the realm of "fair comment" and that the statements were not abusive or vitupuretive so as to interfere with the administration of justice.

"It may be noted that the supreme court in large number of Judgements has held that fair and reasonable criticism of a judicial proceedings would not constitute contempt of court.

I am not satisfied that the criticism made by three persons named in your letter is with mallice or is an attempt to impair the administration of justice or that it was delibrate and motivated attempt to bring down the image of the judiciary", the AG said.

On July 1, a vacation bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala had refused to entertain a petition filed by former BJP Spokesperson Nupur Sharma seeking to club the multiple FIRs registered against her for her comments on Prophet Muhammed.

During the hearing, the bench made strong oral comments against Sharma, saying that her irresponsible comments "set the country on fire" and that she was "singlehandedly responsible for what is happening in the country". The bench said that being a spokesperson of a political party is not a license to make irresponsible comments.

Following the critical remarks of the bench, Sharma's lawyer chose to withdraw the petition.