Binayak Sen's conviction outright `nonsensical': Justice Sachar

Popular anger against the life sentence on human rights activist Binayak Sen boiled over with enlightened opinion across various sections of the people, including academicians, intellectuals, activists as also people belonging to all walks of life, voicing concern over the threat to civil liberties in the so-called champion of democracy.

Terming the conviction of rights activist Binayak Sen by a trial court in Raipur as "nonsensical" and "ridiculous", former chief justice of the Delhi High Court Rajendra Sachar said it was time to act as civil liberties of people were in danger.

"Sen was working since long time for tribal rights in Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur, which is a strong unit of PUCL. He had met Sanyal 30 times in jail in the presence of authorities concerned. There is no way that there could be any secret talks with Sanyal," Sachar said.

"There can't be a greater nonsensical judgement than this. I am ashamed of belonging to the judiciary," Sachar said.

"What we need to understand is that are we creating an atmosphere of intolerance in the country...Today it is Sen. It could be anybody else tomorrow. Whoever speaks against the government would be framed into some charges and put in jail. Civil liberties are in grave danger and we need to initiate action now," he said.

Newspapers and activists also joined the chorus of protest at the arbitrary manner in which courts, supposed to be the guardians of justice, are colluding with the governments in power to gag enlightened opinion and popular support for civil movements.