Manohar Lal Sharma is an Indian lawyer known for filing a number of frivolous public interest litigations.

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 a petition before the Supreme Court about the Indian coal allocation scam.[2] 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.[3] He also defended the accused in the 2012 Delhi gang rape case,[4] often making outrageous remarks against the victims, for which he remains unpopular.[5] The Delhi gang rape case shot him into media limelight, with every Indian and international media keeping him in public view for the next few years. This taste of publicity perhaps makes him file public interest litigations in the top court on every burning issue of the time, despite repeated penalities imposed on him by the supreme court for filing frivolous litigations, which run into lakhs of rupees.[6]

Controversies

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][7][8]

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

Publicity on burning issues in court

Sharma is known among lawyers for being the first to approach the court on contentious issues. His petitions are always poorly drafted and lack substance or legal backing, but by virtue of being the first to file a petition in court, he makes his way to daily headlines and fame.[10]

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.[11][12]

Abrogation of Article 370

He was first to challenge the government's decision to abrogate Article 370 of Indian Constitution. The Supreme Court refused to name the case after him, despite being the first petitioner.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 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. ↑ "SC to hear PIL on Pratibha tomorrow". PTI. 2 July 2007.
  4. ↑ "Story of a 'serial petitioner': M.L. Sharma's many pleas and controversies". The Week. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  5. ↑ "A peek into ML Sharma's world of publicity interest litigation". India Today. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  6. 1 2 "A peek into ML Sharma's world of publicity interest litigation". India Today. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  7. ↑ "Nirbhaya Convicts Lawyer AP Singh Does An ML Sharma, Now Questions Victim's Character". IndiaTimes. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  8. ↑ "These Disgusting Remarks By Nirbhaya's Rapists' Defense Attorney Will Make Every Indian's Blood Boil". ScoopWhoop. 7 March 2015. 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. ↑ "A peek into ML Sharma's world of publicity interest litigation". India Today. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  11. ↑ Service, Tribune News. "Contempt notices to 2 lawyers over false averments". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  12. ↑ 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.


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