New Delhi, Jul 05, 2022, By Special Correspondent

New Delhi, Jul 5: A group of former judges and bureaucrats on Tuesday demanded that the Supreme Court recall its observations against suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.

The group, comprising 15 high court judges, 77 ex-all India services officers and 25 veterans, alleged that the apex court crossed the "Laxman Rekha" while making comments that are an "indelible scar on the justice system of the largest democracy".

 It noted that the "unfortunate" comments are not in sync with the judicial ethos and have sent "shockwaves" in the country and outside.

"In the annals of the judiciary, the unfortunate comments have no parallel and are an indelible scar on the justice system of the largest democracy. Urgent rectification steps are called for as these have potentially serious consequences on democratic values and security of the country," they said in a signed statement.

The 117 signatories include former chief justice of the Bombay High Court Kshitij Vyas, former Kerala High Court judge P N Ravindran, former Gujarat High Court judge S M Soni, former Rajasthan High Court judges R S Rathore and Prashant Agarwal and former Delhi High Court judge S N Dhingra.

The Supreme Court had on July 1 come down heavily on Sharma for her controversial comments against Prophet Mohammad, saying her "loose tongue" has "set the entire country on fire" and that she is "single-handedly responsible for what is happening in the country".

Refusing to entertain her plea for clubbing of FIRs lodged in various states against her for the remark, the bench held that the comment was made either for cheap publicity, political agenda or some nefarious activities.

Sharma's comments against the Prophet during a TV debate had triggered protests across the country and drawn sharp reactions from many Gulf countries. The BJP subsequently suspended her from the party.