CJI DY Chandrachud Recuses From Hearing Contempt Of Court Case Against Kunal Kamra

Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on Thursday recused from hearing the contempt of court case against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra.

Back in December 2020, the Supreme Court had issued notice to stand up comedian Kunal Kamra on the petitions seeking criminal contempt action against him for his tweets made about the Supreme Court and its judges. The reason for CJI Chandrachud's recusal is that he led the bench which granted bail to Arnab Goswami in the abatement of suicide case against the latter. As a consequence, Kamra launched a series of tweets mocking Justice Chandrachud and the Supreme Court of India.

Former AG K.K. Venugopal had allowed initiation of criminal contempt case

Former AG KK Venugopal had granted his consent for the initiation of contempt proceedings against Mr Kamra, over his tweets about the Supreme Court. Venugopal had earlier taken note of the displeasing comments made and called them highly objectionable.

"I find that today people believe that they can boldly and brazenly condemn the Supreme Court of India and its judges by exercising what they believe is their freedom of speech. But under the Constitution, the freedom of speech is subject to the law of contempt and I believe that it is time that people understand that attacking the Supreme Court of India unjustifiedly and brazenly will attract punishment under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1972."- K.K. Venugopal

Kamra's controversial tweets in brief

Kamra had taken to Twitter soon after Mr Arnab Goswami was released on interim bail in the abatement to suicide case. In his first tweet, he called the Supreme Court as the Supreme Joke of the country. This was followed up by a morphed photo which showed the Supreme Court in saffron colour with a BJP flag flying over it. If this was not enough, he made scathing remarks attacking Justice Chandrachud by comparing him to a flight attendant serving champagne to first-class passengers.

The controversial stand-up comedian had earlier issued a statement on Twitter refusing to apologise for his tweets in question. In his counter-view, Kamra believes that the majesty of the Supreme Court is not lowered by comedians like him. 

The faith of the public in the judiciary is founded on the institution's own actions and not on any criticism or commentary about it, he had said back then.