SC notice to lawyers Sharma, Singh for anti-women remarks

New Delhi, March 24 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to advocates M.L.Sharma and A.P.Singh on a petition by the apex court's women lawyers association seeking action against them for allegedly making derogatory remarks against women in BBC documentary 'Daughter of India' on the December 16 gang rape case.

A bench of Justice V.Gopala Gowda and Justice C. Nagappan issued notice to Sharma and Singh returnable in two weeks.

As court issued notice, the Supreme Court Bar Association also impleaded itself in the matter.

The petitioner, Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association, has sought action against Sharma and Singh, who had also appeared for the accused in December 16 gang rape case, including restrictions on their entry in the Supreme Court premises.

The woman lawyers have sought the protection of their fundamental rights to work with dignity and without gender bias. Seeking to be shielded from any gender bias, the women lawyers contended that their petition was necessitated due to the "ignominy and the direct attack on the dignity of women, especially women lawyers practicing in Supreme Court who have suffered due to the statements made and publicized by two male lawyers, and specially respondent no. 1 (Sharma), who regularly practices in the Supreme Court".

The petition has described as "inhumane, scandalous, biased, outrageous " the remarks made by two lawyers in the documentary.