Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V. Ramana today suggested to a petitioner scientist, who was seeking removal of Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Gen (Retd) Vijay Kumar Singh for his controversial remarks, to “use (his) energy for good work”.
CJI Ramana gave the suggestion to scientist Chandrasekaran Ramasamy, while dismissing his petition, which alleged that the comments made by Singh on February 7, intended to bring hatred, contempt or disaffection against the nation and that he breached his oath. Justices A.S. Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy were also part of the Bench.
“You are a scientist, use your energy for good work. If you don’t like a statement by a minister, you file a plea and ask him to be removed?” said CJI Ramana.
Advocate CR Jaya Sukin, appearing for the petitioner, said that Gen (Retd) Singh’s statement has defamed the Indian Army and the same was even carried out in the Chinese media.
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The petition said on February 7, during an event at Madurai in Tamil Nadu, Gen (Retd) VK Singh had said that China has transgressed the border many times, based on its perception of the LAC. “None of you come to know how many times we have transgressed as per our perception. We don’t announce it. Chinese media does not cover it…Let me assure you, if China has transgressed 10 times, we must have done it at least 50 times, as per our perception…”
“The speech of the Union Minister was ‘intended to bring out hatred, contempt or disaffection and was an attempt to excite disaffection towards the Government established by law in India’ and an assault on the Unity and Integrity of India and thus, he committed a breach of his oath,” added the plea.