Contempt petition against Prashant Bhushan, Aaj Tak, Times Now for allegations against judiciary

A contempt petition has been filed in Supreme Court against advocate Prashant Bhushan and News channels, Aaj Tak and Times Now for allegedly making reckless imputations against the judiciary..The petition filed by five lawyers from Lucknow was mentioned by advocate Vishnu Jain yesterday before Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra who said, “We will see”..The petitioners have taken objection to the statements made by Bhushan after the pronouncement of two judgments by Supreme Court – judgments on Sahara Birla Payoffs and death of Judge Loya..The petition alleges that it is “usual practice of Shri Prashant Bhushan to malign the Hon’ble Judges and the institution of judiciary if he fails to get favorable judgment from the court attributing reasons for passing the judgment/order against him.”.Citing the example of Sahara-Birla Payoffs case, the petitioners have submitted that after the case was dismissed, Bhushan made public statements against the judgment rendered by the Court terming it a ‘black day’ in the history of the Supreme Court..Likewise, the petitioners have also cited the dismissal of the case of Tehseen Poonawalla v. Union of India seeking probe into the death of Judge Loya. The petition states that immediately after the announcement of the verdict, Prashant Bhushan “with a view to scandalize the judges and the institution of judiciary addressed the press in the lawns of the Supreme Court which was broadcast by different news channels”. .The petition states,.“In his statement Prashant Bhushan severely criticized the judgment including attributing motives for passing the judgment and terming the same as the black day in the history of Supreme Court.”.The statements of Bhushan were broadcast throughout the day by Television News Channels Aaj Tak and Times Now, the petition states..The petitioners have sought initiation of criminal contempt against Bhushan, Aaj Tak and Times Now under Article 129 of the Constitution of India read with Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act..The petitioners have also requested the court to frame guidelines to regulate advocates while making statements before or after any verdict or judicial proceeding..Read the petition below.