SCBA urges AG to permit contempt case against Nishikant Dubey for comments on CJI Sanjiv Khanna

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has released a statement condemning the remarks made by BJP leader Nishikant Dubey against Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna..In its resolution passed on April 22, the SCBA has stated that Dubey's comments amount to an "attack on the Supreme Court, as an institution, and qua the Chief Justice of India Mr. Justice Sanjiv Khanna...".It has also urged Attorney General for India R Venkataramani to allow a contempt of court case to be filed against Dubey.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.A lawyer has already written to the AG seeking his consent for filing the plea. "We do hope that the Attorney General, charged with the responsibility of protecting the Constitution and the laws, who has reportedly received a petition seeking consent to proceed for Criminal Contempt against Mr. Nishikant Dubey, will grant consent to protect the dignity of the Institution and the dignity of the Chief Justice of India Mr. Justice Sanjiv Khanna," reads the SCBA resolution..The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) has also passed a resolution condemning Dubey's remarks."Such remarks are not only factually baseless and deeply irresponsible but they also amount to a direct and unwarranted attack on the independence, dignity and majesty of our country's highest Constitutional court," the SCAORA resolution states.The use of scandalous language against the Chief Justice of India for political mileage is wholly uncalled for and sets a dangerous precedent, SCAORA has said..Last week, in an interview with Asian News International (ANI), Dubey said that CJI Khanna was to blame for “all civil wars in the country”. Dubey's comments have come at a time when the leaders belonging to the BJP have upped the ante against the judiciary, particularly the top court, for allegedly taking executive decisions and writing laws through judicial orders..The remarks were made in the aftermath of two cases before the Supreme Court. In one of those cases, a bench headed by CJI Khanna had asked the government some tough questions about the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 which was recently passed. The Centre eventually assured the Court that key provisions of the Act, including the formation of the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards and provisions on de-notifying properties already declared or registered as waqf, will not be acted upon for the time being.In another case, the Supreme Court laid down timelines for Governors to give assent to bills passed by the state legislature, urging them to not act on considerations of political expediency..[Read SCBA Resolution].[Read SCAORA Resolution]