SC issues contempt notice against VK Singh

Terming former Army chief General VK Singh’s remarks against the Supreme Court as “scandalising,” the top court on Tuesday issued a contempt notice against him for undermining judiciary’s authority.

Terming former Army chief general VK Singh’s remarks against the Supreme Court as “scandalising,” the top court on Tuesday issued a contempt notice against him for undermining judiciary’s authority.

A special bench of justices RM Lodha and HL Gokhale took suo motu cognisance of a report published in a section of the media that quoted Singh attacking the SC for not deciding his age row on the basis of matriculation certificate. The same document, he claimed in the interview, is relied upon to determine age of an accused such as of a juvenile involved in the gang rape case of a medical student.

Directing Singh to file his response by October 23, the bench said: “The same amounts to scandalising the court and prima facie VK Singh’s statement tend to scandalise the judiciary and also to lower the authority of the court.” It asked attorney general GE Vahanvati to assist the court in hearing of the case.

“This court, therefore, takes cognisance of the criminal contempt and direct that notice be issued to him as to why contempt proceedings be not initiated against him,” the court said. It even issued notice to the publisher of the daily which reported the statement.

In the report published on September 22, Singh was quoted as saying: “If the court can define the age of a rape victim on the basis of his matriculation certificate then why has the Supreme Court failed to decide my age despite checking and cross checking my certificate?”

This follows the privilege motion moved by the National Conference (NC), which wants Singh summoned to explain his allegations.

The NC wants Singh to name the politicians who supposedly received payment. A privilege motion is given precedence over ordinary business but is not debated.