SC Registers Plea Seeking Contempt Action Against Kerala Congress Over Post Targeting CJI

The Supreme Court has registered a writ petition seeking contempt proceedings against the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) over a controversial social media post targeting Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant.

According to the apex court's website, a complaint addressed to the CJI by advocate Vineet Jindal on October 13 was registered as a writ petition on October 30.

The complaint seeks action against the KPCC over a post published from the official Congress Keralam account on X on October 12. The post went viral and drew criticism on social media before being deleted.

The petitioner has also sought directions to authorities to ascertain whether a political demonstration and slogan-shouting on the Supreme Court premises on the evening of October 12, involving Rahul Gandhi and other political leaders, took place without authorisation.

The complaint further seeks an inquiry into whether the gathering caused any obstruction to the movement of advocates, litigants, judicial officers or court staff on the court premises.

Meanwhile, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said the person responsible for uploading the controversial message against the CJI on the party's official X account had been removed from the charge.

In a statement, Joseph clarified that the post was published without the knowledge, consent or consultation of the KPCC leadership.He also maintained that the Congress party had no disagreement over the impartiality of the judiciary.

The controversy erupted after the post targeting the CJI triggered widespread reactions on social media, prompting the state Congress unit to remove it and take action against the person responsible.

The registration of the complaint as a writ petition marks a formal step in the matter. However, it does not amount to a finding of contempt against the KPCC or establish that the alleged demonstration was unauthorised.