SC adjourns hearing on criminal contempt action against comedian Kunal Kamra by four weeks

The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned by four weeks the hearing on three petitions seeking criminal contempt action against comedian Kunal Kamra for his tweets about Supreme Court.

The adjournment was on the basis of a request made by one of the petitioners seeking time to file rejoinder to the counter-affidavit submitted by Kamra. The bench granted four weeks time for rejoinder and directed the listing of the case after four weeks, Live Law reported.

A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and R Subhash Reddy considered the petitions of Abhyudaya Mishra, Skand Bajpai and Shrirang Kantneshwarkar, which were filed by after the Attorney General for India granted consent for initiating contempt proceedings against Kamra.

Responding to the contempt plea, Kamra has filed an affidavit stating that his tweets were not published with the intention of insulting the Court but to draw its attention to and prompt an engagement with issues that he believes are relevant to the Indian democracy. Kamra also said that public faith in the Judiciary cannot be shaken by any criticism or commentary but only by the Courts own actions and accord.

Kamra stated no institution of power, not even Courts are beyond criticism in a democracy. "I believe that constitutional offices, including judicial offices — know no protection from jokes. I do not believe that any high authority, including judges, would find themselves unable to discharge their duties only on account of being the subject of satire or comedy," he added.

The top court's bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah had issued notice to Kamra on December 18, on the petitions seeking criminal contempt action against him for his tweets against the Judiciary.

Kamra had made a series of tweets regarding the Supreme Court and initiation of contempt against him has been sought for 4 of his tweets posted in the wake of the Supreme Court granting interim bail to Arnab Goswami.