1 The filing of such a false petition in court and then giving publicity to the false allegations contained in it is not only Perjury, Criminal defamation but also amounts to Criminal contempt of Court. This court has held in a number of cases that the filing of false affidavits in court with a view to mislead it amounts to Criminal Contempt of Court. I submit that it is the duty of the Court to proceed against the Petitioners for Perjury and Criminal Contempt.
2 However, it appears from the contents of the petition that the real motivation of the petitioners in filing this petition against me is because I have written and spoken against the Narmada Judgement and indeed written and spoken against various other judgements of this and other courts. It is obvious from the following passages of the petition that the petitioners believe that the Court should not be subjected to criticism, especially not by a practicing lawyer, particularly one who is involved in a particularcase.
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3 I have always believed and worked on the basis that a lawyer, especially one espousing pubic interest causes is fully entitled to be involved in the causes that he is espousing. In fact, I believe and have worked on the basis that a lawyer should espouse only those public interest causes that he strongly believes in and agrees with. I believe that in a public interest matter, a lawyer can and indeed should argue with his head and heart. In keeping with this principle, I have only taken up those public interest causes in court that I believe in. While doing so, I have identified myself with the causes that I have espoused in court. I have often participated in the public campaigns on such issues and have also written about them. I have not done so to influence the court, but to educate the people on the issues involved. I believe that in a Republic where the ultimate sovereign are the people, it is important for people to understand the issues involved in public interest cases, and also how the court has dealt with those so that proper public opinion is formed on those issues and so that people could understand the functioning of the Judiciary which is one of the pillars of the State.
