The Supreme Court issued notices to Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and journalist Nikhil Wagle over their remarks on the CJI, while exempting them from personal appearance on the next date of hearing and asserting that courts have consistently protected personal liberty and fundamental rights.

The Supreme Court on Friday issued show-cause notices to Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut and journalist Nikhil Wagle in criminal contempt proceedings over their public remarks concerning Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and the judiciary. A bench comprising the CJI and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, however, exempted Raut and Wagle from personal appearance on the next date of hearing, saying it would first consider their explanations.

The show-cause notices were issued on a contempt plea filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). SCBA President and senior advocate Pradeep Rai alleged that the remarks by Raut and Wagle went beyond the bounds of fair criticism and were capable of undermining public confidence in the Supreme Court.
Expressing concern over statements targeting the judiciary, the CJI observed that courts had consistently upheld personal liberty and fundamental rights, making attacks on the institution particularly unfortunate. The SCBA pressed for the personal appearance of the respondents. The bench, however, decided to issue show-cause notices first.
"We are giving a show-cause as of now. Of course we are granting exemption for personal appearance. Let us see," the bench said. Earlier, Attorney General R Venkataramani had granted consent for initiating criminal contempt proceedings under Section 15(1)(b) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
The SCBA filed its petition on October 15 and Venkataramani granted consent the same day. The controversy followed the CJI's decision to decline a request for a personal meeting by a delegation of opposition parties, indicating that the matter could instead be brought before the court through a petition.
According to the SCBA's petition, Wagle subsequently posted an alleged abusive remark directed at the CJI on his X account. He later reportedly withdrew his remarks. Raut also made some alleged objectionable remarks.


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