[BREAKING] "Public's faith in judiciary is founded on its own actions, not on criticism about it:" Kunal Kamra refuses to apologise for contempt

Stand up comedian Kunal Kamra told the Supreme Court that suggesting that his tweets/ jokes criticising the Supreme Court could shake the foundations of the most powerful court in the world is an over-estimation of his abilities.

. Kamra, who is facing contempt of court case in Supreme Court, stated on affidavit that public's faith in the judiciary is founded on the institution's own actions and not on any criticism or commentary about it.

. "The suggestion that my tweets can shake the foundations of the most powerful Court of the world is an overestimation of my abilities. Just as the Supreme Court values the faith public places in it, it should also trust the public not to form its opinions of the Court on the basis of a few jokes on Twitter. The public's faith in judiciary is founded on the institution's own actions and not on any criticism or commentary about it," the affidavit filed by Kamra said. . Public's faith in judiciary is founded on the institution's own actions and not on any criticism or commentary about it. Kunal Kamra . To believe any institution of power in a democracy is beyond criticism is like saying migrants need to find their way back home during an ill planned nationwide lockdown; it is irrational and undemocratic, he added.

.[BREAKING] Supreme Court decides to proceed with contempt of court case against Kunal Kamra, Rachita Taneja for their Tweets; Issues notice . He further said that "jokes are made on a comedian's perception" and are used to make people laugh and that "many people do not react to jokes which do not make them laugh" just as political leaders ignore their critics.

. "Humor attempts to blunt the grimes of the situation and offers a measure of comfort to the afflicted," Kamra said in the affidavit filed through advocate Pritha Srikumar Iyer .

. He further said that if the Court feels that he has crossed the line and wants to shut down his internet, "then I will write Happy Independence Day post cards every August 15 just like my Kashmiri friends."

.Tweet by Kunal Kamra "grossly obnoxious", "deliberate insult to CJI SA Bobde": AG KK Venugopal grants consent for contempt (again). If Court feels I have crossed the line and wants to shut down my internet, I will write Happy Independence Day post cards every August 15 just like my Kashmiri friends. Kunal Kamra . Kamra further stated that he believes judges cannot find themselves unable to discharge their duties "only on account of being subject to satire or comedy."

. He also said that there is growing culture of intolerance in the country where taking offense is seen as a fundamental right and has been elevated to a status of a much loved national indoor sport. In this regard, Kamra adverted to the case of comedian Munawar Faruqui.

. "We are witnessing an assault on freedom of speech and expression with comedians like Munnawar Faruqui jailed for jokes they have not made and school students being interrogated for sedition. At such a time I hope this Court will display that freedom of speech and expression is a cardinal principle," the affidavit said. . On November 12, Attorney General KK Venugopal had granted permission to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Kamra based on complaints from various law students and lawyers who had drawn the attention of the law officer to four tweets by Kamra.

According to the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, a private individual can file a contempt of court petition in Supreme Court only after obtaining the consent of the Attorney General or the Solicitor General. Similar consent has to be obtained from the concerned Advocate General of the State when filing a contempt petition before a High Court.

. The following were the four tweets for which the AG had granted consent:

1. The Supreme Court of this country is the most Supreme joke of this country...

2 .The pace at which the Supreme Court operates in matters of “National Interests” it’s time we replace Mahatma Gandhi’s photo with Harish Salve’s photo...

3. DY Chandrachud is a flight attendant serving champagne to first class passengers after they’re fast tracked through, while commoners don’t know if they’ll ever be boarded or seated, let alone served.

4. All lawyers with a spine must stop the use of the prefix “Hon’ble” while referring to the Supreme Court or its judges. Honour has left the building long back...

Kamra also posted a morphed image of the Supreme Court building with an orange shade and depicting a BJP flag hoisted in the foyer of the Supreme Court.

. [Read Affidavit]

[BREAKING] "Public's faith in judiciary is founded on its own actions, not on criticism about it:" Kunal Kamra refuses to apologise for contempt

Debayan Roy

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