Supreme Court Advises Judicial Restraint Following High Court Judge’s Controversial Remarks
Guwahati: In a pivotal development, the Supreme Court has advised judges to demonstrate heightened restraint and caution during oral observations in court proceedings. This advisory comes in the wake of a controversy triggered by remarks from Justice Rajbir Sehrawat of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Taking suo motu cognizance, the Supreme Court issued this cautionary note after reviewing Justice Sehrawat’s statements made in a July 17 order. Justice Sehrawat had criticized the Supreme Court for staying a High Court order, questioning the apex court’s role in contempt proceedings initiated at the High Court level. His comments gained further traction through a widely disseminated video of the hearing.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, along with Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, and Hrishikesh Roy, observed that the impropriety of Justice Sehrawat’s remarks was exacerbated by the video’s widespread circulation. They highlighted the necessity of maintaining judicial decorum, especially in an era characterized by extensive reporting and live-streaming of court proceedings.
"The remarks made by the single judge during the hearing have caused significant harm to the sanctity of the judicial process," stated the Supreme Court. The apex court expressed a hopeful stance that such incidents would be circumvented in the future.
While the Supreme Court chose not to issue a formal notice to Justice Sehrawat—thereby sparing him from a judicial adjudication or inquiry—it did take the decisive action of expunging the contentious remarks from the July 17 order. The Court underscored the necessity of this intervention but expressed a desire to avoid similar actions moving forward.
This advisory underscores the Supreme Court’s commitment to preserving the integrity and decorum of judicial proceedings, serving as a reminder of the critical importance of discretion and propriety in judicial communications.
Original Story https://www.guwahatiplus.com/india/supreme-court-cautions-judges-on-conduct-amidst-live-streaming-era
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