SCBA clarified that it did not seek to prevent fair and temperate criticism of the judiciary.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Thursday filed a criminal contempt petition against journalist Nikhil Wagle and Uddhav Sena leader Sanjay Raut over their disparaging remarks against Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant.Attorney General R Venkataramani has since granted consent to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against the two under the Contempt of Courts Act.The statements came after Chief Justice of India (CJI) declined a request last week from a delegation of opposition parties to meet him in person. The CJI said the delegation could instead file a petition before the court.According to the petition, Wagle subsequently posted “**** you CJI!” on his X account in response to a report about the CJI’s decision. However, Wagle later deleted his tweet and posted an apology.Raut’s remarks to the media were carried by news agency IANS on X on October 12.“We have also seen judges attending political programs of the BJP in states where it is in power, and chief ministers organizing dinners to welcome high court and Supreme Court judges,” Raut was quoted as saying. The petition further states that he referred to photographs purportedly showing judges playing badminton with political figures in London.

“The aforementioned statement is false and contrary to records and is made to scandalise and diminish the authority of the Hon’ble Supreme Court,” the petition states.The petition cites a June 19 order of the Delhi high court, which found that photographs circulated as being from a badminton event in London were actually from an event held at Thyagaraj Stadium in New Delhi in November 2025. The High Court had directed that the content be taken down.The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) clarified that it did not seek to prevent fair and temperate criticism of the judiciary, reported Bar and Bench.