Manohar Lal Sharma

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Manohar Lal Sharma is an Indian lawyer.

Career[]

Sharma is an Indian lawyer whose career is mired in controversy, and who was internationally condemned for his views on women and sexual assault that he made in defence of the rapists of one of the most brutal attacks of women in history. He was the first person to file a petition before the Supreme Court In the Indian coal allocation scam. He also defended the accused in the 2012 Delhi gang rape case. In 2007, as an independent advocate, he filed a public interest litigation petition in the Supreme Court in the case of Sant Muktabai Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana.

Controversies[]

  • As defence lawyer for one of the defendants in the 2012 Delhi gang rape case he raised controversy by accusing the victims.[1] Sharma blamed the victims for the assault, saying he has never heard of a "respected lady" being raped in India. "Until today I have not seen a single incident or example of rape with a respected lady," Sharma said in an interview at a cafe outside the Supreme Court in India's capital. "Even an underworld don would not like to touch a girl with respect."[2] He also called the male victim "wholly responsible" for the incident because he "failed in his duty to protect the woman". He faced a public outrage over his controversial statements against women in a BBC documentary titled India's Daughter. In the documentary. Alleging that his comments were inhumane, scandalous, unjustifiable and a direct affront to and in violation of the dignity of women, especially those practising in the Supreme Court, Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking restriction on the entry of ML Sharma in apex court premises.[3]
  • In May 2015, Supreme Court of India had issued a notice asking why he should not be debarred from filing and/or canvassing any Public Interest Litigation on account of the "irresponsible and scandalous allegations levelled by him” against the members of Indian Parliament in one of his petitions.[4] He later apologised and was allowed to file PILs with certain checks.[5]
  • Supreme Court dismissed the Public Interest Litigation filed by him regarding to the General Elections conducted in 2019.[6]
  • The Supreme Court in August 2019 pulled up Advocate M L Sharma for filing a shoddy petition challenging the August 5 Presidential Order on Article 370 on the very next day of its issuance.
  • In November 2013, during the Supreme Court judge-intern sexual harassment scandal, he filed petition against the victim, a leading newspaper which followed up the story, the attorney general and an online blog accusing them of "criminal conspiracy" and asking for contempt proceedings against them.[7] One of his arguments in the case was that the petitioner learned from ancient books that a lady rarely speaks truth for solely truth's sake and hence her words should not be trusted.[8] Sharma has also challenged the validity of laws appointing the National Judicial Appointments Commission. However taking cognisance of certain "irresponsible and scandalous allegations levelled by him" against India parliamentarians, Court issued show cause notice to him asking "why he should not be debarred from filing and/or canvassing any Public Interest Litigation".[9]

References[]

  1. ^ Suryatapa Bhattacharya (14 January 2013). "Devil's advocate in India gang rape draws scorn from public". The National World. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Victims in Delhi rape case are to blame, defendants' lawyer says". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 January 2013. Archived from the original on 9 January 2013.
  3. ^ "Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association v. Manohar Lal Sharma". 1, Law Street. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Supreme Court issues notice to ML Sharma asking why he should not be disbarred from filing PILs". 1, Law Street. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Supreme Court accepts ML Sharma's apology; allows to file PILs with checks". 1, Law Street. 18 July 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  6. ^ https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1147024259455356928. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ^ Kian Ganz (18 November 2013). "The #InternJudge story so far and latest: Outlook nearly names". Legally India. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  8. ^ Kian Ganz (16 November 2013). "'Lady never speak truth': ML Sharma contempt writ vs intern, TOI, LI, AG in SC harassment case". Legally India. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  9. ^ "Supreme Court issues notice to ML Sharma asking why he should not be disbarred from filing PILs.He is one of the handy and gaddar of India.He shall be hanged on the road till eternity". 1, Law Street. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.


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