The Supreme Court has registered a contempt of court case against the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee over a social media post allegedly targeting CJI Surya Kant as a writ petition.
Kerala Congress had made a post on Twitter on October 12 allegedly targeting the CJI after he remarked that law and order was not his domain in the context of stringent curbs imposed by Delhi police amid protests seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. The post read, “Dear Surya Kant, if law and order is not your domain, resign now. We will find your replacement who can handle it.” The post was eventually taken down.
Challenging the post, advocate Vineet Jindal on October 13 wrote a letter to CJI Suryakant, questioning whether such political criticism is permissible or falls under criminal contempt of court. The CJI’s office “cannot be treated as one whose continuance is subject to the approval or displeasure of any political organisation,” the letter said.
Referring to LoP Rahul Gandhi’s march to SC premises on October 12, the letter sought an examination of whether such an entry “without authorisation” breached security protocol. But at the same time, the letter said, “the mere holding of a peaceful demonstration, the raising of political slogans at a lawful location or the presence of political leaders in the vicinity of the Supreme Court does not, by itself, establish contempt of court or any other offence.”
Jindal’s letter was registered as a civil writ petition on October 13, though it hasn’t been listed before a bench for hearing.
The development comes despite an unconditional apology by Kerala Congress to the CJI. On Oct 22, KPCC also responded to a legal notice sent by Supreme Court Bar Association Joint Secretary Meenesh Dubey, saying that a party worker posted it without consultation with leadership. The response said that the post had been removed since then.
Earlier, on October 15, CJI Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi had issued notice in a plea seeking contempt action over the Kerala Congress post to the INC, Rahul Gandhi, and other INDIA Bloc leaders, but declined to initiate contempt. “No contempt today. We are only issuing notice. Let us see what the response is, and then we will take it forward,’ the CJI had said.
