The Supreme Court on Friday came down heavily on lawyer ML Sharma, who had filed a petition challenging the Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, for his ‘defective’ petition and ‘unpreparedness’ on the very sensitive issue. A bench of the Apex Court, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, hauled up Sharma for his ‘defective’ petition on Article 370. “What is your petition? You have filed a rubbish petition on such an important matter. What are your prayers? I don’t understand, after reading it for half-an-hour,” CJI Gogoi observed.
The Apex Court also said that he (Sharma) was challenging the validity of the Presidential order without a prayer to set it aside. ‘There are six PILs, out of which four are defectives These have to be cured and after that we will hear the matter,’ the Top Court said and refused to give any date for hearing the case. In a matter like this importance, defective petitions have been filed, the CJI asked Sharma. To this, Sharma replied, ‘Mylord, I was unwell and that’s why I could not file a proper one, please give me some time so that I can file a proper and amended petition. ‘The Apex Court allowed him to file the amended petition as soon as possible.
Another petitioner, Anuradha Bhasin, told the Apex Court that the restrictions imposed on communications and internet access and telephone connection should be withdrawn and restored as soon as possible. At this, the Solicitor General, said, ‘We know the situation and in all possible manner, the connection would be restored in a few days. ‘The Court did not pass any order and posted the matter for further hearing, without giving any date.
(UNI)
