Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal raised the issue in the Supreme Court after which Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud asked Attorney General R Venkataramani to look into it and speak to the Lt Governor.
Mr Sibal told the court that Mr Bhat had argued for five minutes in the court which led to his suspension on August 25. "He took leave for two days, went back, and was suspended," he informed.
Advertisement"Mr AG, just see what has happened. Someone who appears in this court is suspended now. Have a look into it. Talk to the LG," the Chief Justice remarked. "If there is something else, then it's different. But why such close succession to him appearing and then getting suspended," he asked.
Justice SK Kaul, also part of the Constitution Bench, pointed out the "close proximity" between the arguments and the suspension order, following which the Solicitor General admitted that the "timing was not definitely proper"
Justice BR Gavai, another judge on the bench, too said the government action may be a retribution.
Mr Mehta pointed out there were other issues that had led to his suspension and that Mr Bhat appears in various courts.
Then, he should have been suspended earlier, why now, argued Mr Sibal.
The senior lawyer said Mr Bhat teaches politics in Jammu and Kashmir and it had become difficult for him since the 2019 move as his students were raising questions over democracy.
