In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has scheduled a hearing for next week to address a plea concerning derogatory remarks made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey about the apex court and Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna. The plea, highlighting Dubey’s contentious statements that sparked widespread controversy, was urgently listed before a bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih.
The plea was brought to attention after a video surfaced online in which Dubey criticized the Chief Justice, suggesting his actions could lead to “civil wars” in India. This statement quickly escalated into a broader social media controversy, with derogatory terms being used to describe the judiciary. Counsel for the petitioner expressed serious concerns about the remarks and their impact on the judiciary’s dignity.
During the proceedings, Justice Gavai queried whether the petitioner intended to file a contempt petition, to which the counsel responded affirmatively, stating that an official petition had already been filed. Despite attempts to initiate contempt proceedings against Dubey through the Attorney General R Venkataramani, there has been no action thus far.
The counsel also requested immediate directions from the court to compel social media platforms to remove the controversial video, underscoring the urgency and gravity of the situation.
The issue first arose after Dubey’s scathing critique following the Supreme Court’s questioning of certain provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, which led to temporary suspension of the law by the Centre. Dubey’s remarks extended to a suggestion that legislative bodies like Parliament and state assemblies be shut down if the judiciary assumes a role in lawmaking.
Following the backlash, BJP President J P Nadda clarified that Dubey’s statements were his personal views and not representative of the party, which holds the judiciary in high regard as a crucial pillar of Indian democracy. Nadda also instructed party members to refrain from making disparaging comments about the judiciary.
