New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday strongly disapproved of the delay by the Madhya Pradesh government in deciding on the grant of sanction to prosecute state minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for his objectionable remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who had briefed the media during last year's Operation Sindoor.
Taking exception to the delay, a division bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that the decision on the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) request for prosecution sanction against Shah should have been taken two weeks ago. The SIT probed the case on the directions of the SC and had sought the government's sanction to prosecute the minister. "Just comply with our order now. Enough is enough. The first thing should have been an apology. It was only after we took cognisance (of the case)," CJI Kant orally told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who apprised the bench that the decision on sanction to prosecute the minister was still pending.
Mehta contended that Shah's remarks may have been misread. "What he said was unfortunate. Possibly he wanted to praise the lady officer," Mehta submitted. Finding little force in the argument, CJI Kant remarked, "It was not unfortunate. It was most unfortunate." Mehta reiterated, "He (Shah) wanted to praise the lady. But he could not articulate himself." However, the argument cut no ice with the bench, with the CJI remarking, "As a politician, he knows how to articulately praise the lady officer."
Justice Bagchi pointed out that according to SIT's status report, Shah was in the habit of making such comments. "Let the state consider the totality of circumstances and take a call," the bench added.
In May last year, the apex court had constituted a three-member SIT to investigate the FIR registered by the Madhya Pradesh Police on the directions of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The SIT comprises IPS officers, including a woman officer. The SC had clarified that IPS officers should be from outside MP.
The HC had taken suo motu cognisance of Shah's remarks against Colonel Qureshi calling her a "sister of terrorists". During an earlier hearing, the SC had observed that Shah's comments were "most unfortunate" and that he had "ruthlessly played with the sentiments" of the public by making such remarks.
Taking exception to the delay, a division bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that the decision on the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) request for prosecution sanction against Shah should have been taken two weeks ago. The SIT probed the case on the directions of the SC and had sought the government's sanction to prosecute the minister. "Just comply with our order now. Enough is enough. The first thing should have been an apology. It was only after we took cognisance (of the case)," CJI Kant orally told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who apprised the bench that the decision on sanction to prosecute the minister was still pending.
Mehta contended that Shah's remarks may have been misread. "What he said was unfortunate. Possibly he wanted to praise the lady officer," Mehta submitted. Finding little force in the argument, CJI Kant remarked, "It was not unfortunate. It was most unfortunate." Mehta reiterated, "He (Shah) wanted to praise the lady. But he could not articulate himself." However, the argument cut no ice with the bench, with the CJI remarking, "As a politician, he knows how to articulately praise the lady officer."
Justice Bagchi pointed out that according to SIT's status report, Shah was in the habit of making such comments. "Let the state consider the totality of circumstances and take a call," the bench added.
In May last year, the apex court had constituted a three-member SIT to investigate the FIR registered by the Madhya Pradesh Police on the directions of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The SIT comprises IPS officers, including a woman officer. The SC had clarified that IPS officers should be from outside MP.
The HC had taken suo motu cognisance of Shah's remarks against Colonel Qureshi calling her a "sister of terrorists". During an earlier hearing, the SC had observed that Shah's comments were "most unfortunate" and that he had "ruthlessly played with the sentiments" of the public by making such remarks.
