Former Mah Advocate General objects Ujjwal Nikam's remarks

Mumbai, Aug 6 (UNI) Taking strong objection to the remarks of Maharashtra Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam on the Sanjay Dutt verdict, Congress leader and former additional solicitor general B A Desai today said the statement amounts ''to violation of a person's fundamental rights to make honest and fair criticism of judicial decisions and acts.'' Mr Nikam had appeared for the state government in TADA court, which conducted the trial of the 1993 serial bomb blasts case.

Mr Desai, in a release here today, said under Section 5 of Contempt of Court Act, 1971, members of the film fratenity are within their rights to voice their opinions on the judgement.

''In a free democratic society, an expression of opinion about what one honestly feels about the sentence meted out to the accused in a given case, either way does not amount to contempt'', Mr Desai added.

Mr Nikam has threatened to file contempt proceedings against Bollywood supporters of Dutt who commented on the verdict delivered by TADA judge P D Kode.

The Public Prosecutor stated that Bollywood wanted to indirectly create doubt in the minds of the people that the judgement was not only wrong but it was ''pervert.'' ''Attempts like these would indirectly influence the judicial proceedings. Let them cross the boundaries and then I would take action,'' he said.

UNI