In a hearing on Thursday related to the release of activist Sonam Wangchuk from detention, a heated exchange took place in the Delhi High Court between the Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta and advocate Prashant Bhushan.
Bhushan, while making serious allegations against the State argued that Wangchuk and other protesters are still being detained. The Solicitor General opposed the submissions while asserting that many of Bhushan’s petitions, including the current one, were politically motivated.
Bhushan however responded to the Solicitor general Mehta’s submission making remarks that he would disclose the facts of SG’s mails with accused persons
Bhushan’s argument rested on emails from 2010, which involved the then Chief Minister and Home Minister of Gujarat in allegations that were later proven baseless
The emails referred to by Bhushan had already been presented in a writ petition before the Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court bench led by Justice H.L. Dattu, had thoroughly reviewed the matter and strongly criticized the attempt to pressure law officers with unsubstantiated claims. The judgment in this case had been reported, offering a clear conclusion that no merit was found in the accusations.
“Knowing fully well about little merit in the petition he was arguing before the HC today,Bhushan attempted to divert the court’s attention, and with a view to keep the pot boiling at the instance of the forces inimical to the country’s interest, refer to the very same 15-year-old emails which are already thoroughly scrutinised by the Supreme Court and strictured the petitioner”, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said
Meanwhile, the court listed the petition moved through Bhushan for hearing on October 4 and sought an affidavit to be filed by both the parties stating whether Wangchuk and the other protester’s have been released or not.
The court was hearing the petition filed by Rajneesh Kumar Sinha, an advocate from Himachal Pradesh, seeking to issue a writ of Habeas Corpus to produce Wangchuk and other detenues and declare the the detention of the ‘Chalo Delhi Climate March’ participants as illegal. The petition also prayed for the prohibitory order dated September 30 to be quashed
The climate activist was marching towards along with approximately 150 individuals demanding sixth schedule status for the Union Territory of Ladakh. They were detained by the Delhi police at the national capital’s border on September 30