Activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan on Wednesday filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking deferment of hearing on his sentencing in a contempt case. This comes days after the top court held him guilty of criminal contempt for his two derogatory tweets against the Chief Justice of India and his four predecessors

Bhushan’s application seeks deferment till a review petition is filed and considered by the court, reports ANI. While referring to the tweets by Bhushan, in an earlier hearing, the apex court had said these statements are prima facie capable of “undermining the dignity and authority” of the institution of the Supreme Court in general and the office of Chief Justice of India in particular, in the eyes of the public at large.

The SC had held Prashant Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt in its August 14 order and had fixed August 20 as the day of pronouncing the sentence.

Defending his tweets, Bhushan, in a 142-page affidavit, had said that they were against the judges regarding their conduct in their personal capacity and they did not obstruct the administration of justice. On July 22, the top court had issued a show-cause notice to Bhushan after initiating the criminal contempt against him after taking note of a petition.

He referred to several apex court judgements, speeches of former and serving judges on contempt of court and the “stifling of dissent” in a democracy and his views on judicial actions in some cases.