Ex-judges' concerns over Prashant Bhushan contempt case can't be dismissed, says Abhishek Manu Singhvi

New Delhi: After activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan was held guilty of contempt by the Supreme Court, Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi on Thursday said the law has to be applied to all in a fair and balanced manner. He said concerns on the issue have been raised by many, including former judges, and thus cannot be dismissed offhand and deserve careful thinking. Singhvi, a noted lawyer himself, said his views are personal and not of the party. On demands that the matter be considered by a larger bench, Singhvi said “though there are technical issues which should be considered, there is no hurry and the speed also, I would say with greatest humility, is very worrying. The speed creates part of the problem.” The Supreme Court Thursday granted time till 24 August to activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan to reconsider his “defiant statement” and refusing to apologise for contemptuous tweets against the judiciary and rejected his submission that the quantum of punishment be decided by another bench. The top court on 14 August held Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt for his derogatory tweets against the judiciary, saying they cannot be said to be a fair criticism of the functioning of the judiciary made in the public interest.