A division bench of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and G S Patel was hearing a petition filed by advocate Ejaz Naqvi seeking contempt action to be initiated against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray for allegedly making remarks against the judiciary.
On February 5, 2012, the High Court had rejected a petition filed by MNS seeking permission to hold a political rally at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai. The court had refused to grant permission on the ground that the venue fell under the silence zone.
"It is a serious issue but we need some authenticated document to show that such remarks were made. You (petitioner) should have attached either the news clippings or video procured from news channels of the speech. You have to also establish the correctness of the reports," the court said.
"We are concerned about judges' dignity. Show us details that somebody is showing highest disrespect and disregard towards the court and judges and are maligning it," Justice Dharmadhikari said.
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The bench granted Naqvi six weeks' time to obtain details from news channels and papers regarding the speech.
"Since the matter pertains to dignity of this court we are giving final chance," the court said.
Raj, in his reply affidavit, had denied the allegation and said he had not made any remark against the judiciary. Raj claimed that he was "upset" with the court but had not cast any aspersion on either the judiciary or the judges.