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In a curious turn of events, Supreme Court clarified that the news item being circulated with respect to suo moto registration of contempt case against Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai was ‘inadvertently placed’ on the official website and immediate actions to rectify the same was under process.

Earlier, Learned AG had rejected to invoke his powers under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, to initiate Contempt proceedings against the alleged tweets of Mr. Sardesai, stating that, “I have given careful consideration to the tweets. I find that the statements made by Shri Sardesai are not of so serious a nature as to undermine the majesty of the Supreme Court or lower its stature in the minds of the public. The reputation of the Supreme Court as one of the greatest pillars of our democracy has been built assiduously over the last 70 years. Trifling remarks and mere passing criticism though perhaps distasteful are unlikely to tarnish the image of the Institution.”

Alleged Contemptuous Tweets

• “BREAKING: Rs 1 token fine imposed by SC on @pbhushan1 in contempt case ... if he doesn’t pay it, then 3 months jail sentence! Clearly, court looking to wriggle out of an embarrassment of its own making.”
• “More on @pbhushan1 case: FYI: Sec 67 of IPC stipulates -if fine < Rs. 50/-, imprisonment can’t exceed 2 months. SC has given 3 months.

SC has no authority to debar practice - 5 Judge Bench ruling of SC in VC Misra’s case. Why can’t SC apologise and be done with it!”

• “Breaking: @pbhushan1 held guilty of contempt by SC, sentence to be pronounced on August 20 … this even as habeas corpus petitions of those detained in Kashmir for more than a year remain pending!”
• “Breaking SC refuses to restrain Rajasthan HC from delivering judgment in MLAs disqualification notice case tomorrow. However, HC judgment will be subject to outcome of final SC orders. Note: Justice Arun Mishra who recently described PM Modi as a ‘versatile genius’ is presiding.”
• “and then one of the judges tell me last week that the Ayodhya case is not political!! Would the CJI go to Kashmir too before tacking article 370 case? You are the CJI Mr. Gogoi, not the DGP!! Not yet at least!”

Grounds inter-alia stated by the petitioner in; Aastha Khuranna v. Rajdeep Sardesai, for seeking a contempt action against the aforementioned tweets say that that since the contemnor is a journalist by profession in public life and influential person, such remarks will seriously affect the Supreme Court reposing faith of millions of Indians. It was further submitted that contemnor’s statement is not only a cheap stunt of publicity among people but a deliberate attempt to spread hatred in form of Anti India campaign and resist in every way against the Judiciary as a Machinery.

As of now, the Supreme Court has discarded any such news/information regarding suo moto cognizance making it clear that the position rendered by the learned AG, maintains.