‘Ludicrous’ comments made by BJP MP not worthy of contempt action, says Supreme Court

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

The Supreme Court has found the “ludicrous” comments made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey against the court and Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna not worth the trouble of initiating a contempt of court action.

Mr. Dubey had accused Chief Justice Khanna of being “responsible for all the civil wars happening in India”. He said the Supreme Court would be responsible for inciting religious wars in this country”. The comments came after a Bench headed by the Chief Justice heard the waqf law case.

“There is no ‘civil war’ in India,” a Bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna fact-checked Mr. Dubey.

Refusing to even opt for contempt action against the MP, the six-page order, dated May 5 and published on Thursday, termed his comments “absurd” though betraying, without the shadow of doubt, a desire and deliberate attempt to malign the court and its judges.

It said the court was “not as fragile as flowers to wither and wilt under such highly irresponsible statements which reflect a “penchant to attract attention by casting aspersions on the Supreme Court of India and the Judges of the Supreme Court”.

“Every commission of contempt need not erupt in an indignant committal or levy of punishment, however deserving it may actually be. It is so because judges are judicious, their valour non-violent and their wisdom springs into action when played upon by a volley of values, the least of which is personal protection,” the apex court observed.

The courts need not protect their verdicts and decisions by taking recourse to the power of contempt, the order noted.

The apex court also sent a strong message that “any attempt to spread communal hatred or indulge in hate speech must be dealt with an iron hand”. Hate speech was a criminal offence.

“Hate speech cannot be tolerated as it leads to loss of dignity and self-worth of the targeted group members, contributes to disharmony amongst groups, and erodes tolerance and open-mindedness, which is a must for a multi-cultural society committed to the idea of equality,” the Supreme Court held.