New Delhi, Oct. 23: The Supreme Court today censured former Indian Army chief V.K. Singh for allegedly making contemptuous remarks on its order on his age row, saying one cannot be allowed to “scandalise” the court and attribute motive to its verdict.
At the outset of the hearing, the apex court pulled up the former general for not filing his response on the notice issued by it on a suo motu contempt proceeding against him and warned his lawyer “not to take the case lightly”. The bench of Justice R.M. Lodha and H.L. Gokhale said it welcomes any criticism of its judgment but attributing motive to a judgment is not allowed.
While he was Army chief, Singh had been locked in a battle with the Centre over his age. There was a difference of one year in the date of birth in his service record and that in his school-leaving certificate. Singh approached the top court but it asked him to accept the date in his service record and withdraw his petition.
In an interview, Singh had questioned the court’s decision not to grant him relief and pointed to the case of the juvenile convict of Delhi bus gang rape, whose date of birth was decided on the basis of his school records.
The bench took serious exception when Singh’s counsel sought adjournment as arguing senior counsel Ram Jethmalani was unable to appear as he was held up in another case and even said that the former army chief could argue to defend himself. Singh, present in the second row of the courtroom, remained silent. The bench finally agreed to adjourn the case for November 20.