Nishikant Dubey’s remarks on the judiciary: Our nods and contempt requests, Supreme Court goes to petitioners

The petitioner’s lawyer mentioned the latest news reports on Nishikant Dubey’s comments and said he wanted to file a petition for despise with the court’s permission.

The Supreme Court of India told a petitioner on Monday (21 April 2025) that he did not need to allow a petition to be filed with a contempt petition against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey, criticizing India’s Chief Court and India’s Chief Justice (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna.

The matter was mentioned before the bench consisting of Justices Br Gavai and Augustine George Masih.

The petitioner’s lawyer mentioned the latest news report on Mr. Dolby’s comments and said he wanted to file a petition of despise with the court’s permission. Judge Gawai said: “You have brought it up. To submit, you do not need our permission.” The bench said the petitioner would need to be sanctioned by the Attorney General in this matter.

Mr. Dolby launched a broad side against the Supreme Court on Saturday (April 19, 2025), saying that Parliament and state parliament should be closed if the Supreme Court must enact laws. He also wiped Cji Khanna, holding him accountable for the country’s “civil war”.

Mr. Dolby’s remarks were on the assurance of the Centre to the Court and it would not implement certain disputed provisions (amendments) of the WAQF Act (Amendments) until the day after the Court challenged them.

View | Explanation: What key changes are proposed by the WAQF Amendment Act?

Later, Supreme Court lawyer Anas Tanveer, who represented one of the litigants in the WAQF ACT case, wrote to Attorney General R. Venkatramani, seeking consent to file a temp-spec lawsuit against Mr. Dubey, as his “serious scandal” remarks were intended to lower the dignity of the top courts”.

“I am writing this letter under Section 15(1)(b) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, read with Rule 3(c) of the Rules to Regulate Proceedings for Contempt of the Supreme Court, 1975, to humbly seek your kind consent for initiating criminal contempt proceedings against Nishikant Dubey, Member of Lok Sabha from Godda Parliamentary constituency in Jharkhand, for statements made by him in public that The letter says:

The BJP distanced itself from Mr. Dolby’s criticism of the Supreme Court on Saturday (19 April 2025), while party chairman JP Nadda called the comments his personal opinion. He also confirmed the respect of the ruling party for the judiciary, an integral part of democracy. Mr Nada said he directed the party leaders not to make such comments.