"Your Lordship Must Stop Him": SG Tushar Mehta Vs Prashant Bhushan -Courtroom Exchange in Zinc Disinvestment Matter

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Monday, while objecting to a statement made by Advocate Prashant Bhushan before Supreme Court, asked Bhushan to not abuse 'every individual and every institution'.

The statements were made before a three-judge Bench led by CJI during arguments in the Hindustan Zinc disinvestment case. SG Mehta also asked Bhushan to not make allegations against people not present in the Court.

"Don't abuse every individual and every institution. Mr Rohatgi who appeared in this matter for Vedanta has not given any opinion in this matter." SG Mehta said.

SG Mehta's remark had come after Bhushan made a submission in the Court as to why a regular case was not registered in the matter by CBI even after recommendations for the same was made by all senior officials.

Without naming anyone and placing his reliance on newspaper reports, Advocate Bhushan stated that the 'then Attorney General had opined that there was no need to file a case, while he happened to be lawyer of one of the parties involved.

"There were news reports which said that it was ultimately referred to the then Attorney General and the then AG opined that there was no need to file a regular case. The then AG happens to be the lawyer for this Vedanta Company. " Bhushan Said.

SG Mehta further asked the Court to stop Bhushan from making such accusations. "This person , the lordships must stop him.

He has formed a habit of making accusations against every individual and every Institution and he is getting emboldened. Your Lordships magnanimity is being taken to be a weakness." SG added

SG Mehta further said "Your Lordships majesty is being misunderstood by him. I am sorry to say this. He is not at on a public platform or addressing a public rally! "

"Please Let me make my submissions. Even you are not on a public platform. " Bhushan responded.

"Make submissions, don't make baseless allegations on persons not present in the Court." SG Mehta Said.

"What do you mean not present in the Court? I have said this on affidavit and filed newspaper reports. I am asking the Lordships to do two things. "

Bhushan Said. "You cannot ask, you can pray! " SG remarked.

The Court was hearing a plea by National Confederation of Officers' Associations of Central Public Sector Undertakings questioning the Centre's decision to disinvest in Hindustan Zinc.

The Bench has on Tuesday observed that it will examine the status report submitted by CBI in matter regarding disinvestment of the Government's shares in Hindustand Zinc Limited in 2002. The matter will be taken up next Tuesday.