SC initiates contempt proceedings against journalist for defamation

The Supreme Court on Friday took a firm stand against Chandigarh-based journalist Ajay Shukla, initiating suo motu criminal contempt proceedings over defamatory and contemptuous remarks made on his YouTube channel targeting a senior Supreme Court judge.

A bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, Justice A.G. Masih, and Justice A.S. Chandurkar, condemned the remarks as an attempt to undermine the dignity of the judiciary and bring the apex court into disrepute.

This marks the first such contempt case initiated by the Supreme Court in 2025, signalling its resolve to protect institutional integrity.

The court’s ire was sparked by Shukla’s video, which allegedly contained derogatory statements against the senior judge, questioning their impartiality and judicial conduct.

The bench, in a strongly worded order, emphasised that while the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech under Article 19(1)(a), this right is not absolute. "Such scandalous allegations widely published are likely to bring disrepute to the august institution of the judiciary. No doubt the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech. But this freedom is subject to reasonable restrictions. A person cannot be permitted to make allegations which are in the nature of defaming a judge of this Court and also contemptuous in nature, which attempts to bring disrepute to the institution of the judiciary."

The court ordered Shukla to immediately remove the offensive post from his YouTube channel and scheduled a contempt hearing for July 2025, ensuring due process while sending a clear message about judicial accountability.

The Court directed the registry to treat the matter as a suo motu contempt case and to issue notice to journalist Ajay Shukla.

It also requested the assistance of Attorney General for India R. Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, with the SG expressing gratitude to the Court for initiating the suo motu proceedings.

While the bench did not explicitly name the judge targeted by the allegations, it is noteworthy that Shukla recently shared a video containing critical remarks about Justice Bela M. Trivedi. Shukla has served as the Editor-in-Chief of Varprad Media, a Chandigarh-based outlet, for over three years.

Shukla now faces serious legal consequences, as contempt of court can lead to imprisonment or fines under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. The court’s decision to initiate proceedings suo motu without an external petition underscores the gravity of the offence.

India