We the undersigned citizens of the country, express our concern with the initiation of contempt proceedings against human right activist and advocate, Mr. Prashant Bhushan, by the Supreme Court of India, in respect of two of his tweets.
In the past few years, serious questions have been raised about the reluctance of the Supreme Court to play its constitutionally mandated role as a check on governmental excesses and violations of fundamental rights of people by the state.
We urge the Hon’ble judges of the Supreme Court to take note of these concerns and engage with the public in an open and transparent manner. The initiation of contempt proceedings against Mr.Bhushan who had articulated some of these concerns in his tweets, appears to be an attempt at stifling such criticism, not just by Prashant Bhushan but by all stakeholders in the Indian democratic and constitutional setup.
Therefore in the interest of justice and fairness and to maintain the dignity of the Supreme Court of India, we urge the Court to reconsider its decision to initiate suo-moto contempt proceedings against Mr. Prashant Bhushan and to withdraw the same at the earliest.
Action: Nation-wide coordinated action programmes in solidarity with Prashant Bhushan
Date: 20 August 2020, Thursday
Time: 10:30 am to 1 pm or later
On 20th August 2013, the voice of rationalist thinker Dr. Narendra Dabholkar was silenced forever. On 20th August this year, the Supreme Court plans to sentence Prashant Bhushan for contempt of court. The legal fraternity, human rights movements and indeed ordinary citizens have risen against this judgment that would end up silencing all voices of dissent in the country. Let us all come together on 20th August to watch what happens in the court and stand with Prashant Bhushan at this historic juncture. Let us resolve that our hard-earned freedoms will not be surrendered. Hum Dekhenge!