On Friday, the Supreme Court ordered the Registry to send a show-cause notice to begin criminal contempt proceedings against a petitioner-in-person who had made egregious claims about a member of the Apex Court in a request for an early hearing. Three weeks have passed since the notice was declared returnable.

“…the Registry shall issue show cause to the petitioner as to why he should not be prosecuted for criminal contempt for scandalizing a Judge of this Court. Notice shall be made returnable in three weeks.”

A Bench comprising of the Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, and Justice Hima Kohli noted in the order that the petitioner, who appeared in person, had offered an unconditional apology. The court was given three weeks to review the affidavit the petitioner submitted to explain his actions in order to determine whether or not the apology was sincere. It also mentioned the Counsel, who the petitioner-in-person had asked to represent him, had said he would only accept the brief if the petitioner would completely retract the charges.

The Chief Justice of India was furious that scandalous claims were made against a sitting judge of the Supreme Court without even the slightest bit of evidence to support them.

The CJI was bemused that the petitioner-in-person went to the extent to allege that the said Judge was a terrorist.

“You are calling him a terrorist. It is a service matter. This is how you talk about a Judge.”