In response to a recent Supreme Court ruling that Governors must act within a ‘reasonable time’ on bills, and its decision to examine provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, Dubey questioned the court’s authority to direct parliament.
Published Apr 20, 2025 | 8:26 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 20, 2025 | 8:26 PM
Synopsis: A petition has been submitted to the Attorney General of India seeking contempt proceedings against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey over his remarks about the Supreme Court and Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna. Dubey had accused the court of overstepping its authority and inciting religious conflict. The BJP has distanced itself from his comments, saying they are his personal statements.
An Advocate-on-Record has sought the Attorney General of India’s sanction to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey over his remarks targeting Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and the Supreme Court, LiveLaw reported.
In response to a recent Supreme Court ruling that Governors must act within a ‘reasonable time’ on bills, and its decision to examine provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, Dubey wrote in a post on X on Sunday, 19 April: “If the Supreme Court makes the law then the Parliament House should be closed.”
क़ानून यदि सुप्रीम कोर्ट ही बनाएगा तो संसद भवन बंद कर देना चाहिये
— Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) April 19, 2025
Speaking to ANI later, Dubey, who represents Godda constituency in Jharkhand, questioned the court’s authority to direct constitutional bodies.
“How can you give direction to the appointing authority? The President appoints the Chief Justice of India. The Parliament makes the law of this country. You will dictate that Parliament?… How did you make a new law? In which law is it written that the President has to take a decision within three months? This means that you want to take this country towards anarchy. When the Parliament sits, there will be a detailed discussion on this…”
He continued: “…Supreme Court is responsible for inciting religious wars in the country. The Supreme Court is going beyond its limits.”
In a letter submitted under Section 15(1)(b) of the Contempt of Courts Act to Attorney General R Venkataramani, the petitioner described Dubey’s comments as “deeply derogatory” and “dangerously provocative”.
“He recklessly attributes national unrest to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, thus scandalising the highest judicial office in the country and attempting to provoke public dissent, outrage and possible unrest,” the letter said, according to LiveLaw.
Soon after Dubey’s remarks, the BJP moved quickly to distance itself from its frequently outspoken MP. Party president JP Nadda termed the statements “personal” and said the party neither endorsed nor supported them.
In a post on X, Nadda wrote:
“The BJP has nothing to do with the statements made by BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma on the judiciary and the Chief Justice of the country. These are their personal statements, but the BJP neither agrees with such statements nor does it ever support such statements. The BJP completely rejects these statements.”
भाजपा सांसद निशिकांत दुबे और दिनेश शर्मा का न्यायपालिका एवं देश के चीफ जस्टिस पर दिए गए बयान से भारतीय जनता पार्टी का कोई लेना–देना नहीं है। यह इनका व्यक्तिगत बयान है, लेकिन भाजपा ऐसे बयानों से न तो कोई इत्तेफाक रखती है और न ही कभी भी ऐसे बयानों का समर्थन करती है। भाजपा इन बयान…
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) April 19, 2025
He continued: “Bharatiya Janata Party has always respected the judiciary and gladly accepted its orders and suggestions because as a party we believe that all the courts of the country including the Supreme Court are an integral part of our democracy and are the strong pillar of the protection of the Constitution. I have instructed both of them and everyone else not to make such statements.”
RJD leader and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday called Dubey’s remarks an affront to the dignity of the judiciary.
“Such comments should not be made on the Court, and if someone makes such comments, contempt proceedings should be initiated,” he said, as reported by ANI.
Similarly, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the BJP was responsible for the very issues Dubey had accused the court of enabling – particularly societal divisions.
Speaking at a press conference in Prayagraj, ANI reported him as saying: “The truth is that if anyone is creating rifts between religions, then it is the BJP. Creating a divide in society in the name of religion, caste is a very well-planned programme of the BJP, and they spend funds on it. Whatever was said is the thinking of the BJP.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
