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Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Supreme Court initiates contempt against YouTuber for defamatory remarks on judge
The Supreme Court on Friday initiated suo motu criminal contempt of court proceedings against a YouTuber for alleged 'scandalous' remarks against a senior judge of the top court. A three-judge bench, presided by CJI B R Gavai and also comprising Justices A G Masih and A S Chandrukar, also directed that the video by YouTuber Ajay Shukla be taken down forthwith. The bench said that in the video clip, Ajay Shukla, editor in chief of digital channel, Varprad Media Pvt Ltd, 'has made scathing and scandalous observations on some of the senior judges of this court.' 'Such scandalous allegations widely published on YouTube, are likely to bring disrepute to the august institution of the judiciary,' the bench said. 'The Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of speech. At the same time, the right is subjected to reasonable restrictions,' the bench said, adding, 'a person cannot be permitted to make allegations which are in the nature of defaming a judge of this court and also of contemptuous nature which attempts to bring disrepute to the institution of judiciary.' The bench then directed the Registry to register the present proceedings as a suo motu contempt and asked Attorney General R Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to assist the court in the matter. The court, which is currently on partial working days, will hear the matter after it resumes full working mode.
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
SC takes suo motu case against YouTuber Ajay Shukla for ‘scandalous' comments against sitting judge
The Supreme Court on Friday (May 30, 2025) took suo motu cognisance of 'scandalous, contemptuous and defamatory' remarks made by Ajay Shukla, through his YouTube channel, about a senior judge of the apex court. A three-judge Bench of Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, A.G. Masih and A.S. Chandurkar said in a short order that such remarks brought the institution of judiciary into disrepute. Chief Justice Gavai said free speech was subject to reasonable restrictions, and making defamatory and contemptuous comments about a sitting Supreme Court judge cannot be protected in the name of freedom of expression. Attorney General R. Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta were present in the court room. Mr. Mehta said the comments were grave in nature and he was glad the court has taken cognisance of them. It was he who suggested to the Bench to additionally describe Mr. Shukla's comments as 'defamatory and contemptuous'. It directed the 'taking down' of the social media post with immediate effect. Mr. Shukla's YouTube channel had posted a video on Supreme Court judge, Justice Bela M. Trivedi, recently. Justice Trivedi is retiring on June 9. The court issued notice to Mr. Shukla, who is editor-in-chief of the Varprad Media Pvt Ltd, a digital channel hosted on YouTube. The Bench scheduled the suo motu contempt case after the vacations, possibly in July.
New Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Supreme Court initiates suo motu contempt case against journalist Ajay Shukla
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday initiated a suo motu criminal contempt of court case against a Chandigarh-based journalist and YouTuber, Ajay Shukla, for his alleged and scandalous remarks against Justice Bela M Trivedi (now retired). According to the Supreme Court's causelist, the case is listed for hearing on May 30, Friday, before a three-judge bench of the top court, headed by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih and a third judge yet to be decided. The case was titled as 'In Re: Scandalous Remarks Made By Mr Ajay Shukla, Editor-in-Chief, Varprad Media Pvt Ltd, a Digital Channel'. Shukla, in his YouTube channel, recently posted a video on the retirement of apex court judge, Justice Trivedi. In the video, the caption was described as Justice Trivedi (Former Judge) as 'Godi judge', a term describing someone as favouring Central government.
