SC issues contempt notice to Congress’ Kerala unit for post criticising CJI

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the office-bearers of the Congress’ Kerala unit, including the party’s state chief, seeking their response on why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for a social media post criticising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Live Law reported.

The court was hearing a plea filed by an advocate seeking suo moto action over the post, which has since been deleted.

The counsel for the Congress’ Kerala unit said that the post had been made by a party worker without the approval of the organisation’s leaders, and it had been taken down. The lawyer also said that the party had apologised in the matter.

Justice Aravind Kumar said that the court will examine “whether it has come from the pen or your heart”, Live Law reported.

The court said that the Constitution “is supreme” and that no person or political organisation stands above it. “Independence of the judiciary is not a matter of political convenience,” it was quoted as saying.

The bench said that while it is open to criticism, freedom of expression “cannot be a shield for intimation or interference with the administration of justice”, Live Law reported.

The authority of the court rests on the rule of law and any attempt to undermine it “needs to be dealt with an iron...

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