The Supreme Court today issues notice to journalist Nikhil Wagle and Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut asking them to show cause why criminal contempt proceedings should not be taken against them over their comments against the Chief Justice of India.

A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was dealing with the Supreme Court Bar Association's plea for initiating criminal contempt proceedings against them.

The bench has dispensed with their personal presence.

Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai, SCBA President, submitted that the Association was "pained" to intitiate the contempt action. But, if such objectionable comments are ignored, many others will be instigated, Rai said.

"People don't understand they are being trapped," CJI Surya Kant said.

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, supporting the SCBA plea, said that such statements are knowingly made with an attempt to intimidate the Court. "Many understand; they do it deliberately. They misunderstand that it will bring pressure on court. It is an attempt to pressure the court, a futile exercise though," he said.

"Courts have never lagged behind in protecting rights. If you still keep condemning, it's very unfortunate. Hope better sense prevails on everyone. It is unfortunate," CJI said.

The petition had been filed after obtaining written consent from the Attorney General for India.

As per the petition, after the CJI declined to meet the delegation of Opposition parties in connection with ongoing protests in Delhi, Wagle posted from the account @waglenikhil: "**** you CJI".

Filed under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, the petition has submitted that such a deliberate and intentional post made on social media by a senior journalist to a mass audience scandalises and tends to lower the authority of the Court.

SCBA says that Raut also made false statements and alleged that the judges attend political programmes of the ruling party and accept dinners hosted by Chief Ministers. Reportedly, he referred to the alleged photographs of judges playing badminton with political figures in London and imputed allegations against the CJI and other judges. He made these comments criticizing the CJI's refusal to meet the Opposition Leaders on the SIR issue.

While granting consent, AG R Venkataramani observed that the respondents' comments were prima facie "scandalous and intended to lower the esteem of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, particularly the Chief Justice of India". The Attorney General pointed out that the comments concerning judges' playing badminton in London had been found to be false by the Delhi High Court.

The AG thus allowed the request made by SCBA President Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai.

In a related development, Wagle yesterday expressed an unconditional apology for his comment, saying that it was an emotional outburst, and that he has deleted the post. In an interview with news agency ANI, Sanjay Raut also reportedly regretted his remarks, saying if there's any sentiment that he has defamed the Supreme Court, he regrets it and apologises for it.