Manohar Lal Sharma

Manohar Lal Sharma is an Indian Supreme Court lawyer known for filing several public interest litigations in India.

Career

Starting with a public interest litigation in 1991 against provisions of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, Sharma has litigated a number of issues in Indian courts that have attracted media attention.^[1]

He had filed the first petition before the Supreme Court about the Indian coal allocation scam.^[2] He was also the first to challenge the government's decision to abrogate Article 370 of Indian Constitution.^[3]

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.^[4] He also defended the accused in the 2012 Delhi gang rape case.^[5][6] The Delhi gang rape case shot him into the international media limelight^[3] He was, at the time, the only lawyer prepared to defend the rape accused in the face of a boycott call by varioius advocate associations.^[7]

Legal tactics

Blaming the Nirbhaya Case victims for using public transport and lack of character

In defence of the accused in the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder case, Sharma blamed the victim for using public transportation. He said, "Until today I have not seen a single incident or example of rape with a respected lady. Even an underworld don would not like to touch a girl with respect."^[1][8]

Sharma claimed the "Nirbhaya gang rape was planned by her boyfriend to gain political mileage"^[9]

Contempt notice over false averments

On 18 November 2022, Supreme Court of India issued contempt notice to Sharma for allegedly attributing motives to Madhya Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Ravi Malimath in their petition challenging the High Court verdict.^[10][11]

References

1. Sharma, Nalini (23 July 2021). "A peek into ML Sharma's world of publicity interest litigation". India Today.
2. Ojha, Srishti (12 May 2022). "Coal Block Allocation Scam: Supreme Court Seeks Centre's Affidavit On Stages Of Investigation In Different Cases". LiveLaw.in.
3. "A peek into ML Sharma's world of publicity interest litigation". India Today. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
4. "SC to hear PIL on Pratibha tomorrow". PTI. 2 July 2007.
5. "Story of a 'serial petitioner': M.L. Sharma's many pleas and controversies". The Week. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
6. "A peek into ML Sharma's world of publicity interest litigation". India Today. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
7. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/gang-rape-case-counsel-faces-lawyers-protest-to-defend-accused/articleshow/17923845.cms?from=mdr
8. "Nirbhaya Convicts Lawyer AP Singh Does An ML Sharma, Now Questions Victim's Character". IndiaTimes. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
9. "'Nirbhaya Gang Rape was planned by her boyfriend to gain political mileage', says defence lawyer ML Sharma". India.com. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
10. Service, Tribune News. "Contempt notices to 2 lawyers over false averments". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
11. Jiji, Sara Susan. "Bar Council of Kerala issues suo motu show cause notice to advocate BA Aloor for professional misconduct". Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news. Retrieved 26 November 2022.