India
Supreme Court Lists Contempt Petition Against Kerala Congress Over Post Targeting CJI Surya Kant
The Supreme Court has tentatively scheduled a hearing for November 6 on a suo motu contempt petition filed by two lawyers, Vineet Jindal and Sreejesh SR. The petition seeks contempt action against the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) for publishing a post on the social‑media platform X that was addressed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and called for his resignation. The post, which was deleted after being published on October 12, 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 made amid the Supreme Court’s hearing of petitions seeking a probe into Delhi Police excesses during the Cockroach Janta Party protests. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association (SCOARA) condemned the post, stating that it borders on contempt and undermines public confidence in the judiciary. SCBA joint secretary Meneesh Dubey issued a legal notice to KPCC President Sunny Joseph on October 16. KPCC responded on October 22, saying the post was made by Vijay Thottathil of the party’s media cell without prior approval or consultation of the leadership. Thottathil has since been removed from his position and has been asked to issue a public apology. The petition also requests the court to preserve and examine evidence related to the post, including the original social‑media publication, its URL, and electronic records, as well as CCTV footage, entry registers, and security logs from the court premises. The court is also reviewing a separate petition filed by SCBA against Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and journalist Nikhil Wagle for derogatory posts about the CJI and the judiciary in connection with the October 12 events. A bench headed by Justice Aravind Kumar has directed Raut to appear in person and allowed Wagle to appear virtually.}