SC Declines Contempt Plea Against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, Asserts 'Our Shoulders Are Broad Enough'

The Supreme Court has made stern observations in a hearing pertaining to a contempt petition against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for his criticism of the nation's top court.

The criticism was over the Court's order to give a deadline to the President and Governors to clear pending bills. Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna reacted sternly, saying, "Our shoulders are broad enough," after a lawyer highlighted the importance of protecting the Court's dignity.

The lawyer in the petition, Vishal Tiwari, described Dubey's remarks as "insulting and condemnable" for the judiciary and requested contempt proceedings. Tiwari said that the dignity of the judiciary had to be safeguarded and used the Court's earlier action in the Delhi judicial services case to request the Court to follow suit in this case.

But Chief Justice Khanna clarified that the Court would not accept the contempt petition. He said, "We will be passing a short order. We will record some reasons. We will not be entertaining it, but we will give a short order."

The row started after the Supreme Court made a landmark judgment last month, giving the President and Governors three months to take action on pending bills. The decision was criticized by a number of political leaders, including Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who is a member from Godda, Jharkhand.

Dubey, in his comments, employed words such as "anarchy" and "religious wars" to attack the Court, arguing that its conduct was driving the nation towards disorder. He said, "What is the law that says that the President has to make a decision in three months? You are looking to drive this country towards anarchy. Supreme Court is accountable for creating religious wars in the country. Supreme Court is exceeding its boundaries. If one needs to approach the Supreme Court for every single thing, then Parliament and State Assembly must be closed."

The BJP disassociated itself from Dubey's statement, vouchsafing its regard for the judiciary and insisting that his remarks were personal in nature and did not reflect the party's position.

The Supreme Court Bar Association also denounced Dubey's statements, calling them contemptuous and defamatory. The Association adopted a resolution saying, "This assault on the Supreme Court, as an Institution, and on the Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, as an individual, is unacceptable and must be dealt with in accordance with the law."