New Delhi, July 10: The Supreme Court on Friday witnessed an unusual disruption after a litigant appearing in person allegedly hurled abuses, threw papers in open court and had to be forcibly removed from the courtroom during the hearing of his plea challenging an order of the Allahabad High Court.
The incident took place before a Bench of Justices K.V. Viswanathan and Alok Aradhe and briefly disrupted the apex court proceedings. At the outset of the hearing, the litigant demanded registration of an FIR against an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in Lucknow and a private company. Addressing the Justice Viswanathan-led Bench, he said, “Mr judicial servant. I order you to order the registration of an FIR against the ACP… Lucknow.” Taken aback by the submission, the apex court asked, “You are ordering us?” The litigant responded, “That is all from my side. Everything is on record.”
Soon thereafter, the petitioner allegedly threw the papers relating to his case into the air and started hurling abuses in the courtroom, including making offensive remarks against the Chief Justice of India (CJI). The courtroom briefly descended into chaos before security personnel intervened and forcibly escorted the litigant out, allowing the proceedings to resume.
The matter before the Justice Viswanathan-led Bench was related to a petition challenging an order passed by the Allahabad High Court. The latest incident comes months after the Supreme Court witnessed another courtroom disruption involving advocate Rakesh Kishore, who allegedly attempted to throw an object at a Bench led by then CJI B.R. Gavai. Though then CJI Gavai had initially decided that no action would be taken against the advocate, Attorney General R. Venkataramani later granted consent to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against Kishore, observing that his conduct amounted to criminal contempt under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, and was “calculated to demean the majesty and authority of the Supreme Court”.
During the subsequent hearing, the then CJI Gavai had said that he and his brother judge were “very shocked” by the incident but had since treated it as “a forgotten chapter”. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had described the advocate’s conduct as “completely unpardonable”, while stressing that the institutional integrity of the Supreme Court must be protected.
IANS
