The Hindu : Arundhati Roy released

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 08, 2002

Front Page

Front Page

Arundhati Roy released

NEW DELHI, MARCH 7. Booker prize winner and Narmada Bachao Andolan activist, Arundhati Roy, was released today from the Tihar Jail after serving the sentence of one-day imprisonment imposed on her by the Supreme Court finding her guilty of contempt of court.

Ms. Roy was released after she paid the fine of Rs. 2,000 imposed on her. She said she was considering challenging the verdict as she found it ``violative of the principles of natural justice''.

``By tomorrow we will decide to file a writ petition on the issue,'' the author's lawyer, Prashant Bhushan, said at a press conference.

One of the judges on the Bench that pronounced the verdict against Ms. Roy yesterday also happened to be on the Bench that had entertained the petition seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against Ms. Roy and others for shouting slogans in front of the apex court against the verdict on the Sardar Sarovar project.

Ms. Roy had earlier prayed that the judge, G.B. Pattanaik, recuse himself from the proceedings, since she did not expect an unbiased verdict. ``Since the said judge did not recuse himself from the proceedings, it amounted to violation of principles of natural justice,'' she said.

- PTI

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

Stories in this Section

VHP's U-turn: we will abide by court verdict

Pak. ready to lift ban on Indian flights: Musharraf

Cabinet recommends President's rule in U.P.

Mayawati quits LS, to focus on U.P.

Arundhati Roy released

Truce monitors meet LTTE chief

Afghan flights resume

Ibobi sworn in