SCBA, Union To Submit Joint Suggestions To Supreme Court On Preventing Attacks On Judges

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that it proposes to submit joint suggestions along with the Union Government on framing guidelines to prevent incidents such as the shoe-throwing bid at the former CJI and to regulate media reporting of comments glorifying such incidents.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a contempt petition filed by the SCBA against Advocate Rakesh Kishore, who had hurled a shoe at then Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai while the latter was holding court.

At an earlier hearing, the Bench had expressed reluctance to initiate criminal contempt proceedings and indicated that it would instead focus on laying down preventive guidelines to avoid such incidents in the future.

During the hearing today, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the SCBA, submitted that the Association had prepared a draft of proposed guidelines and intended to implead the Union of India as a party to the proceedings. Singh emphasised the need for norms governing responsible reporting by mainstream and digital media.

“We have discussed and drafted something, but I was of the view that the Union of India should be a party when your lordships are thinking of guidelines. I will make them a formal party and give my suggestions to them, so that either it can be incorporated in the IT Rules or the Supreme Court Rules. We are thinking of your lordships incorporating it somewhere, so that there is some responsibility on media houses and social media platforms to ensure that these kinds of materials are not propagated,” Singh told the Court.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union, agreed with the proposal and submitted that the SCBA and the Union would place joint suggestions before the Court for consideration.

Recording the submissions, the Bench passed the following order:

“Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for the Union and Senior Advocate Vikas Singh for the SCBA jointly state that they will put up a proposal before this Court to ensure suggestions for preventive measures for these kinds of occurrences, and the matter of reporting and publicising the incident.”