New Delhi: Observing that the expose on "cash-for-arrest warrant" scam struck at the root of the judicial system, the Supreme Court today (Feb06, 2004) gave five days time to an Ahmedabad-based magistrate and three lawyers involved in the scam to give their replies while issuing notice to the Gujarat Government on the assault of journalists allegedly by lawyers.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice V N Khare, Justice S B Sinha and Justice S H Kapadia issued notices to Gujarat Chief Secretary, director general of police and Ahmedabad Police Commissioner after treating as PIL (public interest litigation) a representation of 129 journalists of Gujarat protesting against the assault.

The CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) filed its preliminary findings in sealed cover but Solicitor General Kirit Raval, appearing for the agency, indicated that the person, on whose complaint arrest warrants against the President, Chief Justice of India and former President of Supreme Court Bar Association were issued by the magistrate, appeared to be a fictitious character.

When senior advocate Sushil Kumar, appearing for one of the advocates accused of playing a role in the issuance of arrest warrants, sought protection of law, an anguished Chief Justice said, "The incident has struck at the root of fundamentals of judicial system and do not ask us to apply niceties of law in this case."

The hearing was on a PIL filed by Zee TV reporter Vijay Sekhar who allegedly paid Rs 40,000 to advocates Iqbal Katia, Narender Chaudhary and Harish Bhawaniwala for issuance of the arrest warrants by Magistrate Brahm Bhatt, which has since been suspended.