Congress targets Supreme Court, draws Arnab Goswami-Stan Swamy parallel
A day after the Supreme Court listed reasons behind the bail granted to Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami in the Anvay Naik suicide case, Congress has questioned the Apex court's 'inconsistency'. Comparing Arnab Goswami's case with that of Stan Swamy -- who was arrested by the NIA in the Elgar Parishad case, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi took to micro-blogging site Twitter to air his views.
FollowA day after the Supreme Court listed reasons behind the bail granted to Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami in the Anvay Naik suicide case, Congress has questioned the Apex court's 'inconsistency'
Comparing Arnab Goswami's case with that of Stan Swamy -- who was arrested by the NIA in the Elgar Parishad case, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi took to micro-blogging site Twitter to air his views.
Singhvi, in series of Tweets, said: "#SC in #arnabgoswami legally unexceptionable as blow 4individual liberty. Noble words. Problem when SC demonstrates inconsistency case 2 case, judge 2judge. Innumerable persons languish in jails interminably &bail a rare exception; even listing v delayed. Uniformity need of hour."
"More than police, with respect, I blame the judiciary/concerned judge who mechanically issues notices for week/2 weeks on such requests 4straw/sipper. Such pedantic &mindless notices abs needlessly prolong ct actions &clog our already over clogged legal system. #StanSwamy"
"v proud of India's legal system-pathbreaking judl review, basic structure, PIL. Bt Sometimes ashamed 2b part of a system which is footballing a sipper &straw request of 83 yr old detenu #StanSwamy. Irrespective of merits, I don’t ustand why his rqst not granted or takes so long!"
The Supreme Court granted bail to Arnab Goswami on the grounds that it will be "a travesty of justice if personal liberty is curtailed".
The bench had observed that the High Court was carrying a "prima facie evaluation" so it could not have seen that there was "no nexus" between FIR and Section 306 IPC. Justice Chandrachud also observed that Arnab Goswami is not a "flight risk" in this case.
In the judgment, Justice Chandrachud observed: "The specific case of the appellant (Arnab Goswami) is that he has been targeted because his opinions on his television channel are unpalatable to authority. Whether the appellant has established a case for quashing the FIR is something on which the High Court will take a final view when the proceedings are listed before it but we are clearly of the view that in failing to make even a prima facie evaluation of the FIR, the High Court abdicated its constitutional duty and function as a protector of liberty."
In Stan Swamy's case, he would have to wait for another week to know if he can get a straw and a sipper cup which he needs as a Parkinson's Disease patient and winter clothes for use inside the jail. To recall, this request was placed over 20 days ago.
