Professor apologises for his comment on Dhavan

Professor N Shanmugam, who cursed senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan for appearing for Muslim parties' in Ayodhya title dispute, apologised for his comments on Thursday.

The lawyer appearing for 88-year-old professor said his client regrets his action.

Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said "Why are you doing this? You are 88-year old."

Shanmugam had written a letter to Dhavan cursing him of physical disabilities.

The apex court admonished the octogenarian for saying such things to Dhavan when matter is pending before the court.

Senior advocate Kaipl Sibal appearing for Dhavan said that we do not want any punishment for the professor, instead a message should go out in the country that while hearing is in progress on the matter there should be no direct or indirect intimidation of counsel appearing for any party. The top court has closed this case today.

Chief Justice agreed to hear the application by Muslim parties' lawyer Rajeev Dhavan on the threat he received for appearing for Muslim party after senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned the application before the court.

Dhavan had filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court claiming he has received a letter from Chennai-based Prof. N. Shanmugam on August 14, 2019, threatening him for appearing for Muslim parties in Ayodhya title dispute.

"This letter was sent to C/o. Supreme Court Bar Association and the Staff of Supreme Court Bar Association handed over the said letter to the petitioner on August 22, 2019 ", said the petition.

Dhavan filed the petition through his Advocate-on-Record Ejaz Maqbool, who submitted a letter dated August 23, 2019 along with the letter received from the professor for initiating suo moto contempt petition against him.

Dhavan submitted that he had also received a WhatsApp message from Sanjay Kalal Bajrangi which he described an attempt to interfere with the administration of justice before the apex court.

"By sending the letter the alleged contemnor has committed Criminal Contempt because he is intimidating a senior advocate who is appearing for party/parties before the top court and discharging his duties as a senior advocate and he ought not to have sent such a letter and therefore the petitioner is constrained to file the Contempt Petition," said the petition.

Dhavan urged the apex court to take suo moto cognizance and initiate contempt proceedings.