SC accepts Gen V K Singh's apology

The Supreme Court Wednesday accepted the apology tendered by former army chief Gen. V.K. Singh and dropped the contempt proceedings which it had initiated, taking suo motu cognizance of his interview to a news channel casting aspersion on the court in his date of birth matter.

"Once an apology is tendered from heart" and all that has been said by the general is withdrawn, "I don't think that matter should be pursued even for a minute", said Justice R.M. Lodha, heading the bench that initiated the contempt proceedings against the former army chief.

The court also disallowed attempt by a lawyer to raise the issues about what the general had said on other occasions.

"This is a matter exclusively between the court and the contemenor (General Singh)" and "surely we don't want to enlarge the scope of the hearing", said Justice Lodha and Justice H.L. Gokhale.

The court took on record the statement by senior counsel representing General Singh wherein he said that all that has been said by the general in respect of the judiciary stands withdrawn.