Supreme Court hears Arnab Goswami's plea challenging Maharashtra Assembly's breach of privilege notice against him [LIVE UPDATES]

A Bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian is hearing the plea filed by journalist Arnab Goswami challenging the show cause notice served upon him for alleged breach of privilege..The show cause notice has been issued to Goswami for making certain remarks against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackrey in his news debates on Sushant Singh Rajput’s case..At a previous hearing, the court had observed that it could entertain Goswami's plea only after any action was taken against him.."My father and Nani Palkhivala received notice from Maharashtra Assembly", CJI SA Bobde remarks in Arnab Goswami plea.Live updates from the hearing today feature on this page..Senior Advocate Harish Salve: My client's wife has filed the affidavit and my client is in jail .CJI: In jail for this matter? .Salve: It is for something which was discussed in the assembly.Salve: I have attached the show cause notice. There is an application for directions therein. The notice cannot be used in the courts. .CJI: Mr Singhvi, what is this ? Who has written this letter..CJI: Letter such as this letter was written in 1940s by a prisoner. The letter was withheld by the Superintendent of prison. Then contempt was issued against the official by Justice Vivian Bose. Please file a proper affidavit as the charge is very serious.Salve: It has been said that single worded salutation was used for the CM. It further says sharp words were used by Goswami. .CJI: it does not say about Goswami's powers but what power he is violating .Salve: I don't know what power he is violating.Salve now refers to the suicide of the interior designer and how Goswami has been blamed for it. .[Breaking] Mumbai Police arrests Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami.Salve: this issue was raised in the assembly and discussed. .When this suicide was being discussed, home minister made a statement. .CJI: Dr Nitin Raut was entitled to say in the house that if a crime is committed then it must be investigated..Salve: In a criminal case, Home Minister cannot direct a reinvestigation. "A summary" report was filed and case closed. The protest petition had to be filed and then it has to be proceeded with .CJI: It's a good argument which can be used in that case.CJI: We are concerned about access to this Court. You cannot threaten the people and say how dare can the assembly notice be provided to the Supreme Court. .CJI: There needs to be a committee of persons be appointed to look into this..CJI: We are leaving out the SG as he came into the fray and not because he cannot do it. .Dr Singhvi: There can be an Amicus curiae appointed.Salve: My client has been warned that he will spent Diwali in jail. Please stay the assembly notice. I don't want him to get bail in the suicide case and then be hauled up by the assembly. .CJI: Do you have (Singhvi) anything to say?.Singhvi: I am the State. I will exceed my brief if I speak in this matter. This is dealing with privileges. Judgments from Keshav Singh judgment lays down the domain for the executive. Matter of immediate relief is being taken up by Bombay High Court..[Breaking] Bombay High Court issues notice in Arnab Goswami plea challenging arrest in abetment to suicide case.Singhvi: No precipitate action has been taken by the assembly .CJI: We have a serious question about what this letter means. We have serious question about the intention of the author and we have not seen this in a court like this, especially with a matter of privilege.CJI: In the teeth of Article 32, the officer says how did you file this notice in the Supreme Court. How dare he? No one can be stopped from approaching this Court. .Salve: Please stay the assembly notice.CJI to State of Maharashtra: There is nothing personal in this .Salve: This Court should take suo motu cognizance of the letter and let the officer explain why is it not contempt. A government officer paid out of taxes has the courage to write a letter like this.CJI: Salve has pointed a letter sent on October 13 from an officer of Maharashtra assembly. The officer has written to the petitoner that though he was informed that proceedings were confidential and despite this, it has been observed that the letter has been presented in Supreme Court..You have knowingly breached the notice of assembly and it amounts to breach of confidentiality. .This is serious and amounts to contempt. Such statements are unprecedented and has a tendency to bring the administration of justice into disrepute and amounts to direct interference in the administration of justice. The intention of the officer seems to be to intimidate the petitioner because he moved SC and to threaten him with a penalty for doing so. .In any case, it is the officer would have been well advised that the right to approach this Court under Article 32 is itself a fundamental right. Article 32(1) states it. No doubt a citizen of India cannot be deterred from approaching this Court in excercise of his rights under article 32 it would amount to serious interference..We find that through respondent has been served with the affidavit of this proceeding pending in this Court on October 5, they have not entered appearance. Instead they have issued a letter dated October 13..Respondent no 2 issued notice to show cause why he should not be punished for Contempt under Article 129 of the Constitution..Notice returnable in two weeks. Contemnor shall remain present. In the meanwhile the petitoner shall not be arrested in pursuance of present proceeding.

Supreme Court hears Arnab Goswami's plea challenging Maharashtra Assembly's breach of privilege notice against him [LIVE UPDATES]

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