Why Prashant Bhushan Fined Only One Rupee by Honorable Supreme Court of India?

The Supreme Court of India by its judgement has not shown any mercy on Mr Prashant Bhushan but has shown its own true value, which has been reduced to the lowest level of Rs 1.

Mr Bhushan would not have faced even Rs 1 as fine if he would have apologized before the Supreme Court, as repeatedly requested by the Apex Court of India.

He, however, chose to face the Contempt of Court rather than retract or apologize for his tweet on which the Apex Court started its Contempt proceedings. He instead maintained that it would be contempt of his conscience and the court. [1]

The fine of Rs 1 shows how the value of the Supreme Court has reduced in the eyes of the public.

Image Source: Quint.com

There was a time when even the Prime Minister of India would respect the Supreme Court and fear the Judges.

And now is the time, when even an ordinary advocate refuses to tender a simple apology despite a repeated request by the Apex Court.

However, for the decline of its value, the Supreme Court has itself to blame.

In the last couple of years, the Supreme Court has shown no spine to stand before the Government and preferred to look the other way when the rights of the citizens were violated. The following cases are some of the examples,

• 10% additional reservation in Government jobs and educational institutions was provided by the Government of India for Economic Weaker Section (EWS) by making Constitutional amendment. This led to reservation in Central Government jobs increased up to 60% and later in States like Maharashtra up to 78%. Earlier the Supreme Court has limited the total reservation to 50%. Supreme Court has yet to take up the matter for decision.
• Article 370 abolished without the approval of the Assembly of J&K as mandated in the Constitution. The State was divided and the status of J&K reduced to a Union Territory. Later on, thousands of political leaders were arrested by the Government for months and years with total immunity.
• Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) provided a preferential grant of citizenship based on religion (denying the benefit to Muslims) against the principle of secularism enshrined in the Indian Constitution
• Delhi riot took place right under the nose of the Supreme Court and people of a particular community were targeted. However, no steps were taken by the Apex Court to make the government accountable to the law.

The above cases are just a few examples in which the Apex Court had kept silence and did nothing when the rights of the citizens were taken away and violated.

Today, most people in India are losing faith in the Courts of India and fake police encounters are becoming the order of the day as neither the government nor the public is able to trust Courts to provide timely justice to the citizen.

People know that if the Government of India or any government agencies misuse their powers and violate their fundamental rights, they have no legal or constitutional remedy available to them.

It is high time that Supreme Court of India realizes its duties and responsibilities for the people and nation, and take some tangible steps to check the further decline of its respect and honour in the eyes of the people of this country.