It looks like filing cases without any relevance has become a favorite pastime for Prashant Bhushan. After his eviction from the notorious Aam Aadmi Party, the senior advocate in the Supreme Court is known more for the number of frivolous cases that he has filed in court rather than his legal acumen. Be it shielding the illegal Rohingyas, or applying for the mercy of the then death row convict Yakub Memon, or even making mountains of a molehill on Rafale deal, Prashant Bhushan has done it all.
Now the advocate is in news for his latest case, where he wanted the names of the members of the search committee that would supervise the appointment of Lokpal, to be publicized. In front of a bench, comprising Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, Justice L Nageswara Rao and Justice SK Kaul, Prashant Bhushan kept his demand. When Rao and Kaul directed the committee to complete their work by February and assist the government by all means possible, Prashant stuck to his demand.
It was then that Chief Justice Gogoi had enough of his demands. In a witty but firm criticism, he stated, “Mr Bhushan, why do you want us to pass unnecessary orders… We have asked the search committee to complete work by February-end. When they will give the list, we will give it to you… What is the reason to assume that the committee headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge and comprising eminent persons will not take an appropriate decision?”
When Prashant Bhushan did not relent, Chief Justice Gogoi further said, “Don’t look at things from a negative point of view. Look at things from a positive point. The world will be a better place to live in. So try it from tomorrow. I’m sure you want to make the world a better place to live in. One way to do this is to look at things positively.”
Then, referring to the reporters present in the courtroom, Chief Justice Gogoi took a dig at Prashant Bhushan, as he said, “They are all going to write about you tomorrow.” The entire court erupted in laughter on this, and Prashant Bhushan had to join this as well.
This is not the first time Chief Justice Gogoi has rebuked Prashant Bhushan for his frivolous litigations. Only a couple of months ago, when the Supreme Court didn’t find anything messy in the Rafale deal, Prashant Bhushan, who was one of the advocates for the opposition, tried to drag the case, at which Chief Justice Gogoi struck down hard on him, as he said, “We are giving you full hearing. Use this opportunity carefully and cite only those things which are necessary.”
Besides, Prashant Bhushan has been extremely notorious for peddling anti-Indian propaganda in the name of filing consecutive litigations. From the intolerance episode of 2015 to the current controversy on the Rafale deal, Prashant has been almost always on the wrong side of the argument, shielding the real culprits.
If Prashant doesn’t take the advice of Chief Justice Gogoi seriously, he might face the fate of his colleague and notorious advocate M L Sharma, who is at the risk of losing his license to practice in the Supreme Court.
