The Supreme Court on Tuesday took strong exception to comments made by animal rights activist and former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi regarding the court’s observations in the stray dogs case, expressing concern over her remarks and conduct during a recent podcast.
A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and Justice N.V. Anjaria observed that it was exercising restraint by not initiating contempt proceedings, describing this decision as an act of judicial magnanimity. The bench clarified that its earlier observations on holding dog feeders accountable for stray dog attacks were made seriously and not in a sarcastic manner.
Addressing senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, who appeared on Gandhi’s behalf, the court questioned whether he was aware of the nature and tone of his client’s public comments. The judges remarked that Gandhi’s statements and body language during the podcast reflected a disregard for the dignity of the court.
The bench pointed out the contradiction between the plea for judicial circumspection made by her counsel and the wide-ranging public commentary attributed to Gandhi. While refraining from taking formal action, the court made it clear that such remarks were unacceptable and bordered on contempt, underlining the importance of responsible public discourse when commenting on judicial proceedings.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
