New Delhi: In connection with the posting of a defamatory message on social media about Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, the Supreme Court yesterday issued contempt of court notices to office-bearers of the Kerala State Congress Committee.
During the hearing of the related case, the bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M. Pancholi said: There is freedom to criticize the court’s judgments. However, freedom of speech should not become a shield for interfering in the administration of justice or for intimidation.
However high a position one may hold, if one tries to diminish the authority of the court, it will be suppressed with an iron hand. The judiciary’s calm and patience should never be mistaken for weakness of the institution. The judges stated this firmly.
During the hearing, the lawyer appearing on behalf of the Kerala State Congress Committee said, “That post was uploaded without the permission of the party officials; later it was removed and an unconditional apology was also sought.” In response, Justice Kumar said, “The court will consider whether this apology came merely from the pen or from the heart.”
Last October 12, a post published on the Kerala Congress’s official X page was removed after it caused a major stir online. The party announced that the person who posted it had been removed from responsibility.
