Baalu not immune from contempt proceedings: SC
SC said that it would initiate contempt proceedings against shipping and transport minister T R Baalu if he is found guilty of making adverse remarks against the judiciary.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that it would initiate contempt proceedings against shipping and transport minister T R Baalu if he is found guilty of making adverse remarks against the judiciary.
The minister had made his remarks after the apex court order on a bandh in Tamil Nadu for implementation of the Sethusamudram project. The court called for the record of the transcripts of the alleged contemptuous statements of Mr Baalu.
���Merely because you (Baalu)are a central minister, you are not immune. Why are you saying the petition is not maintainable,��� asked a bench comprising Justice B N Agrawal and Justice G S Singhvi.
The bench made the observation when senior counsel M N Rao, appearing for Baalu, said that the contempt petition against the minister by the ADMK was not maintainable.
���If your speech is contemptuous, contempt (proceedings) will lie, otherwise not. He (Baalu) is not immune, all are equal��� court said.
The court asked the petitioner, ADMK, to place on record the transcripts of the alleged contemptuous statements made by Baalu as reported by in various TV channels.
The ADMK which had filed the contempt petition against Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi, Mr Baalu and others for enforcing the ���state sponsored bandh��� on October 1, 2007, alleging that the Union minister had made contemptuous remarks against the apex court order staying the bandh.
Both Mr Karunanidhi and Mr Baalu along with the state chief secretary, DGP and the transport secretary had denied that any bandh had taken place. They had also submitted that they have the highest regard for the judiciary.
The minister had made his remarks after the apex court order on a bandh in Tamil Nadu for implementation of the Sethusamudram project. The court called for the record of the transcripts of the alleged contemptuous statements of Mr Baalu.
���Merely because you (Baalu)are a central minister, you are not immune. Why are you saying the petition is not maintainable,��� asked a bench comprising Justice B N Agrawal and Justice G S Singhvi.
The bench made the observation when senior counsel M N Rao, appearing for Baalu, said that the contempt petition against the minister by the ADMK was not maintainable.
���If your speech is contemptuous, contempt (proceedings) will lie, otherwise not. He (Baalu) is not immune, all are equal��� court said.
The court asked the petitioner, ADMK, to place on record the transcripts of the alleged contemptuous statements made by Baalu as reported by in various TV channels.
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The ADMK which had filed the contempt petition against Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi, Mr Baalu and others for enforcing the ���state sponsored bandh��� on October 1, 2007, alleging that the Union minister had made contemptuous remarks against the apex court order staying the bandh.
Both Mr Karunanidhi and Mr Baalu along with the state chief secretary, DGP and the transport secretary had denied that any bandh had taken place. They had also submitted that they have the highest regard for the judiciary.
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