Advocate Prashant Bhushan deposited Re 1 fine in the Supreme Court on Monday to escape punishment of three months imprisonment and three years debarment from practice in the SC but sought review of the August 14 judgment convicting him of contempt for tweeting “false and malicious” statements against the SC and CJIs, present and former. Though he had posed for a photograph with a one rupee coin in hand along with his counsel and senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan on August 31, when he was sentenced by a bench of Justices Arun Mishra, B R Gavai and Krishna Murari, Bhushan on Monday deposited a bank draft for Re 1 with the SC registry. After depositing the bank draft, dated September 11 and drawn on ICICI Bank, Bhushan filed a petition seeking review of the August 14 judgment convicting him of contempt. The SC in its 108-page judgment had found him guilty of criminal contempt of court for his two “false and malicious” tweets scandalising the CJI and the SC.
Shah in AIIMS for medical check-up
Home minister Amit Shah was admitted to AIIMS late on Saturday night for a “complete medical check-up”, the premier hospital said in a statement on Sunday. The hospital said Shah, who was admitted to AIIMS on August 18 for post-Covid care, was readmitted for a complete medical check-up ahead of Parliament’s monsoon session which began on Monday. According to reports, Shah was taken to AIIMS after he complained of breathing problem. Sources said he has been lodged in the CN tower, a facility reserved for VVIPs. He is under the care of AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria and his condition is said to be stable. Shah had tested positive for Covid-19 on August 2 and was admitted to Medanta Medicity in Gurgaon. He was discharged on August 14 after he tested negative. However, he had to be admitted to AIIMS on August 18 for post-Covid care after he complained of fatigue and body ache. At the time of his discharge on August 31, AIIMS had issued a statement saying the minister had fully recovered and was fit to resume his routine activities.
Harivansh elected RS deputy chairman
The NDA's enhanced strength in Parliament was on display on Monday when the ruling combine's nominee Harivansh Singh of (JD(U) was elected as deputy chairperson of Rajya Sabha. Although the outcome of the contest had always seemed a foregone conclusion given the steady growth in BJP's numbers and its ability to wean numbers away from the non-NDA benches, the contest marked the opposition’s failure to put up even a semblance of a fight. Harivansh was elected through voice vote. RJD’s Manoj Jha, who also belongs to Bihar, was in the fray from the opposition camp for the "token" fight. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Harivansh, JD(U) member from Bihar, for his second election to the position of deputy chairman, fusing the latter's individual achievement with the pride of the poll-bound state. Modi recalled the contributions of stalwart from Bihar like Jaiprakash Narayan, popularly known as JP, and Karpoori Thakur while congratulating Harivansh. Modi said there have been constant efforts to ensure that proceedings of the upper House don't get stalled.
