The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that no one can malign judicial officers using social media, while refusing to entertain a plea against a Madhya Pradesh High Court order, sending a man to jail for 10 days for levelling corruption allegations on a district judge.
A vacation bench headed by justice Bela M Trivedi observed that not getting a favourable order does not mean one would begin maligning a judicial officer.
The bench, also comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, said the person should have thought twice before casting any aspersion on the judicial officer and there has to be a lesson for others.
As the petitioner's counsel said the imprisonment was excessive and urged the court to show leniency in the matter, the bench orally observed: "He maligned the judicial officer. Think of the damage done to the judicial officer's image."
The petitioner's counsel cited the liberty of his client and stressed that he has been in jail since May 27.
The bench said it was not inclined to interfere in the matter and added that judges are "here to decide on law, not show mercy".
The top court's order came on a plea filed by Krishna Kumar Raghuvanshi against the high court in a suo motu criminal contempt case initiated against him for making allegations of corruption against a district judge.
The proceedings were initiated against the petitioner in response to a reference made by an Additional District Judge under Section 15(2) of the Contempt of Courts Act. The reference was based on Raghuvanshi's circulation of a letter maligning the court's image through WhatsApp.
Govt continued development despite Covid & ethnic violence: Manipur CM
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Monday said that despite the state losing four-and-a-half-years to the COVID-19 pandemic and ethnic violence, the government has continued the developmental works in the state.
BAPS Hindu Mandir and cultural complex opens in South Africa’s Johannesburg
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir and Cultural Complex in Northriding, Johannesburg officially opened its doors on Monday, following the sacred Pran Pratishtha ceremony, led by Mahant Swami Maharaj, the global spiritual leader of BAPS.
We will ensure RG Kar victim gets justice: Bengal Guv
West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose said on Monday that the government would ensure that the RG Kar case victim gets justice.
They damage the nation abroad: EAM Jaishankar slams Rahul’s ‘falsehood’ on ‘Trump invite’ claims
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Monday hit back at the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi over his claims that the former went to the United States of America to get an invitation for Donald Trump’s inauguration, stating that such falsified statements only go on to harm the ‘interests and reputation’ of the country abroad.
Positive impact of regular contacts evident in India-Russia strategic partnership: President Murmu
President Droupadi Murmu on Monday asserted that the "positive impact" of regular contacts is evident in the broader 'India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership' which continues to benefit significantly from the ongoing interaction at various levels.
Over to voters: High-decibel campaign for Delhi election ends
Campaigning for the most hotly contested Assembly election in Delhi ever ended at 5 p.m. on Monday, drawing curtains on months-long, high-decibel electioneering replete with AI-generated memes, acerbic jibes and venomous barbs and a race to woo voters with freebies, including monthly doles to women and the youth.
Rahul Gandhi’s rare praise for ‘Make In India’ project in LS, followed by jibe
Congress MP and the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on Monday made a rare praise for the ‘Make In India’ program, even commending the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing in the ‘good idea’ but then went to disapprove it by calling it ‘damp squib’.
Govt likely to introduce new income tax bill on Feb 6
After the revision in tax slabs in the Union Budget 2025-26 to leave 'enough money in the hands' of taxpayers, the government is likely to unveil the much-anticipated draft of the new Income Tax Bill on February 6.