The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an affidavit filed by the Haridwar District Magistrate and SDM apologizing for defying the court's order and asked them to file a fresh affidavit tendering an unqualified apology.
"First you offer a defence, then you offer an apology," said Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who along with Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul took exception to the manner in which the apology was tendered.
Holding that the affidavit was not satisfactory, the court gave another opportunity to file another affidavit tendering an unconditional apology.
Taking exception to the way the top court's order was defied, CJI Gogoi said: "Playing around with top court order ... we will hold you guilty of contempt and sentence you..."
Noting that first the authorities carried out demolition of a building that was under restrain order, the court said. "We will say that you own up that you violated the court's order and now offer an apology."
Senior counsel Amarendra Sharan urged the court to take a lenient view as it was not a wilful disobedience of the court's order.
--IANS
pk/mr
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