New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday observed that it can entertain journalist Arnab Goswami’s plea challenging the show cause notice issued by Maharashtra assembly for initiation of breach of privilege motion against him for the reportage on actor Sushant Singh Rajput death case, only after any action has been taken.
The top court said as per its understanding the plea could be entertained only if there is any action on the recommendation of the privilege committee of the house pursuant to the show cause notice issued to Goswami.
The show cause notice has been issued to Goswami for making certain remarks against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackrey in his news debates on Rajput’s case.
A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said that the court has to give due regard to the law. “Our understanding of law is that only when any action has been taken by the committee, the plea could be entertained but not when only show cause notice is issued,” said the bench which deferred the hearing by two weeks.
At the outset, the bench also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian was informed by senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Goswami, said that there is an office report in the case, which says the notice issued in the last hearing of the matter was not served upon the secretary of Maharashtra assembly.
The bench asked Salve why was Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing in the matter as Union of India has not been made a party in the case. Salve replied that the Union of India has also been served the notice. The bench asked Salve to file an affidavit saying that notice issued has not been served upon the respondents (Maharashtra assembly secretary). (PTI)
