Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has emphasized that the public must maintain respect for the dignity of constitutional institutions. The comments follow a recent incident in which a litigant was forcibly removed from a Supreme Court courtroom for disruptive and abusive behavior.
Maintaining Institutional Dignity
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Chief Justice Surya Kant declined to comment directly on the details of the courtroom incident, remarking that such outbursts sometimes occur, but stressed that upholding the honor of constitutional bodies is a shared responsibility that everyone must fulfill.
The remarks were made in reference to an event last Friday, where a litigant representing themselves was expelled from a Supreme Court hearing. The individual reportedly shouted abuses and threw legal documents during a petition challenging an order by the Allahabad High Court. The disruption took place before a partial working day bench comprised of Justices K. V. Viswanathan and Alok Aradhe.
Commitment To Accessible Justice
The Chief Justice spoke during a felicitation ceremony organized by the All India Senior Advocate Association (AISAA). The event was held to honor retired Supreme Court Justice Pankaj Mithal alongside five newly appointed judges: Justices Sheel Nagu, Shree Chandrashekhar, Sanjeev Sachdeva, Arun Palli, and Venkita Subramani Mohana.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Justice Surya Kant stated that the selection of the five new judges reflected the collective wisdom of the senior-most members of the judicial collegium. He assured attendees that the Supreme Court remains dedicated to providing swift, affordable, and timely justice to all citizens, emphasizing that no barriers should prevent common people from accessing the nation’s highest court.
