SC notice to 3 lawyers accused in Patiala House scuffle, pulls up Centre

SC also issued notice to Centre, Delhi Police seeking SIT probe in Patiala House court scuffle.

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up the Centre and Delhi Police regarding a plea seeking an SIT probe and initiation of contempt action against three lawyers who had beaten up JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar and others, including journalists, in a court complex.

The apex court also issued notice to 3 lawyers -- who assaulted Kanhaiya and were allegedly caught on camera "bragging and boasting" -- seeking response on why contempt proceeding was not initiated against them.

A bench comprising Justices J Chelameswar and A M Sapre also issued notice to the three lawyers, allegedly caught in a sting operation, and fixed the matter for further hearing on March 4.

At the outset, the bench was reluctant to issue notice on the fresh plea filed by advocate Kamini Jaiswal, saying that it is already hearing a matter on the issue which is to come up on March 10.

"The question is that there is another matter pending and until the proceedings in that case are concluded, should we initiate the contempt proceedings in this fresh one " the bench asked.

However, it later issued notice on the petition. A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur had on Thursday listed the matter for hearing today after lawyer Prashant Bhushan sought urgent hearing of the matter.

The plea has sought "suo motu contempt proceeding" against lawyers Vikram Singh Chauhan, Yashpal Singh and Om Sharma on the ground that they have allegedly been caught on camera talking about the attacks.

It also sought a direction to set up a special investigation team to probe the incidents of violent attacks on journalists, students, teachers, defence lawyers and

Kanhaiya on February 15 and 17 by some advocates in the premises of Patiala House courts here during the hearing of the sedition case involving the JNUSU leader.

The plea was filed in pursuance of an oral observation by a bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar, which is hearing the matters arising out of violence in the trial court premises in the JNU case, that the allegations are fresh ones and hence, a fresh petition is required to be filed.