Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court has today been urged to initiate contempt of Court proceedings against Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for his blatant public contemptuous outburst yesterday against the Judiciary. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday while addressing the Goa Legislative Assembly cast aspersions and defamed the Mapusa Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) by stating that the Judge did not understand law. This unwarranted statement by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar tends to scandalize and lower the authority of the Court. The Chief Minister ought to know where to draw the line and respect other wings of democracy by not inciting the people against the Judiciary. Each arm of democracy must learn to respect the other. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar cannot take shelter under the protection of the Goa Legislative Assembly to abuse, condemn and cast aspersions on the Judiciary. This is not the first time Manohar Parrikar has been insulting the Judiciary. In 2003 the Bombay High Court at Panaji had accepted the apology tendered by Mr. Manohar Parrikar who was also Chief Minister then, on a petition seeking institution of suo motu contempt proceeding in connection with the alleged observations then made by Mr. Manohar Parrikar about the “judges. A division bench comprising of Justice F I Rebello and Justice P V Hardas, while accepting the apology tendered and disposing the contempt petition against Mr. Manohar Parrikar had observed, We may only point out that democracy survives only in those countries where the rule of law prevails and the judiciary is acknowledged as the sentinel for guarding citizen’s rights. To further this constitutional objective constitutional functionaries must accept the role cast on the judiciary in the Constitution and seek to strengthen it. An open challenge to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to initiate breach of privilege and defamation proceedings. The Chief Minister should first take some lessons on the laws of breach of Privilege and defamation. Manohar Parrikar may have been able to high-handedly muzzle his Ministers and MLAs but will not be able to silence the people of Goa. Over the last four decades in fighting against corruption and nepotism in public life, have never and will never be cowed down or intimidated by such threats and consequences that may have to be faced for speaking out fearlessly. Chief Minister is misusing his office to try and scuttle the current probe against Rajendra Arlekar. All the allegations against Rajendra Arlekar are based on documentary evidence now being probed by the Anti- Corruption Branch, Income tax authorities and Hindustan Petroleum. Persons holding public offices should be open to public scrutiny. Have committed no breach of privilege or any wrong by placing the relevant documents against Mr. Rajendra Arlekar in his personal capacity before the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) and other authorities. Nobody is above the law.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 10:57:01 +0000
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