Advocate Rajeev Dhavan files criminal petition against Chennai-based professor
AMN / NEW DELHI —
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Dr Rajeev Dhavan on Friday filed criminal contempt petition against a Chennai-based Professor in the Supreme Court who threatened him for representing Muslim parties in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janam Bhoomi title suit.
Seeking action against Prof N. Shanmugam under Article 129 of the Constitution of India, Dhavan stated in his petition that he received a letter on August 14 in which Professor has threatened him against appearing for the Muslim parties in the case.
In the letter, 88-year old Prof Shanmugam asked how could Dhavan betray his faith “by appearing on behalf of Muslims for their so-called right in Ayodhya” and he also ‘cursed’ the senior lawyer forewarning that he (Dhavan) will ‘pay the price for his blasphemy’.
Advocate on Record, Ejaz Maqbool filed the petition on behalf of the petitioner who is also appearing for the Muslim parties in the Babri Masjid case.
Petition read:
“1. That the present petition is being filed for initiation of Suo Moto contempt proceedings against the Alleged Contemnor above named (N. Shanmugam) under Article 129 of the Constitution of India read with Section 2(c) and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 for willful interfering/obstructing the administration of justice.
- That by way of the present Contempt Petition, the Petitioner herein seeks to bring to the notice of this Hon’ble Court, the act of the respondent is threatening the Petitioner for appearing for Muslim parties in the case.
- The Petitioner has received a letter dated August 14, 2019 from Prof. N. Shanmugam threatening the Petitioner for appearing for the Muslim parties. This letter was sent C/o. Supreme Court Bar Association and the Staff of Supreme Court Bar Association handed over the said letter to the Petitioner on August 22, 2019 near Bar Library-1. The Petitioner through his Advocate-on-Record Mr. Ejaz Maqbool submitted a letter dated August 23, 2019 along with the letter received from Prof. N. Shanmugam for initiating Suo Moto Contempt Petition against the said Respondent. A copy of the letter dated August 23, 2019 of the Advocate-on-Record along with the photocopy of the letter received by the Petitioner from Alleged Contemnor and also a typed copy of the said letter is annexed herewith.”
In his petition, Dhavan asserted that by sending the letter the ‘alleged “Contemnor” has committed Criminal Contempt because he is intimidating a Senior Advocate who is appearing for a party/parties before this Court and discharging his duties as a Senior Advocate and he ought not to have sent such a letter.
Dhavan also stated that one named as Sanjay Kalal Bajrangi also sent him threatening messages on his WhatsApp.
Annexing a photocopy of the WhatsApp message along with the translated copy of the said message with the petition, Dhavan said it is also an attempt to interfere with the administration of justice before Supreme Court.
In the petition, Dr Dhavan also mentioned that he has been accosted both at home and in the court premises with intimidating behavior by several persons.
Dhavan did not seek the mandatory sanction from the Attorney General for filing petition, citing possible conflict of interest on the part of AG who had earlier appeared for the State of Uttar Pradesh in the matters relating to the Babri Masjid/Ram Janam Bhoomi.
It is to be mentioned here that a five-judge Constitution bench of Supreme Court has been hearing the case on day-to day basis and completed 15 days of hearing in the case so far.