The Supreme Court on Friday brought curtains down on the contempt proceedings against its former judge, Justice Markandey Katju, as it accepted an unconditional apology tendered by him.
Closing the case, the bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit in their order said: “In view of the apology tendered, we accept and close the proceeding.”
“I offer my unconditional apology for publishing the above captioned writings and have deleted the same from my blog entries on Facebook,” Katju said in his apology that was read out in the court by senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan appearing for him.
“I express my respect for the judicial appointment process and for the judiciary as an institution of governance,” he said.
Urging the court to take his unconditional apology on record, Katju told the court: “I am prepared to read it in open court if I am called upon to do so.”
The apex court had on November 11 issued notice of contempt to its former judge Markandey Katju for using “intemperate” language and “scandalising” judiciary after he appeared before a bench and had heated exchanges with it.
The issue of contempt was raised after the bench had dismissed the review petitions filed by Kerala government and mother of Soumya challenging the acquittal of the convict of the murder charge.
Justice Katju was summoned by the apex court as he in his blog had claimed that there was error in the judgement acquitting the accused for the murder and he was asked to assist the bench during the hearing of the review petition.
(Feature image source: PTI)
