High Court: File reply to plea against Raj Thackeray's remark

The Bombay high court has directed the Union ministries of law and judiciary and information and broadcasting to file a reply to a contempt petition against Raj Thackeray, which alleges that he  made comments against the judiciary.

A division bench comprising of Justice PV Hardas and Justice AR Joshi was hearing a petition filed by advocate Ejaz Naqvi which sought for contempt action to be initiated against the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief for his comments against the judiciary last year.

On February 5, 2012, the high court had rejected a petition filed by the MNS, seeking permission to hold a political rally at Shivaji Park on the grounds that the venue came under a silence zone.

In the contempt petition, Naqvi alleged that soon after the decision was taken, Raj had referred to it as ‘partisan’.

“The aforesaid remark scandalises the high court and tends to lower its authority and dignity. The remark cast an unwarranted aspersion of partiality against the Bombay high court,”  the petition said.

The ministries have been asked to file the reply within three weeks.

@DNA