The Supreme Court has held activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan guilty of contempt of court for his tweets derogatory against the judiciary and the Chief Justice of India (CJI).

The hearing on the quantum of punishment will be held on August 20, the Supreme Court said on Friday.

A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra pronounced its verdicts in the suo motu contempt case against Prashant Bhushan for his two tweets on Judiciary, CJI SA Bobde and his four predecessors.

On July 22, the SC had issued notice to Prashant Bhushan in the contempt proceeding initiated against him for his tweets, saying his statements prima facie "brought the administration of justice in disrepute".

Prashant Bhushan had moved the Supreme Court seeking recall of its July 22 order.

In his reply to a show cause notice issued by the Supreme Court, Prashant Bhushan said the expression of opinion, “however outspoken, disagreeable or unpalatable to some”, cannot constitute contempt of court.

Prashant Bhushan also referred to the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19 (1)(a) of the Constitution, and said this right was the ultimate guardian of all the values that the Constitution holds sacred.