"Freedom of speech is subject to the law of contempt": Attorney General gives consent to initiate contempt of court against Kunal Kamra

A letter was written to Mr. KK Venugopal, Attorney General of India seeking consent for initiation of contempt proceedings against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra.

Attorney-General-of-India KK-Venugopal KK-Venugopal-Kunal-Kamra

The Attorney General of India  KK Venugopal, on Thursday, gave his consent to start criminal contempt of court proceedings against comedian Kunal Kamra for his derogatory tweets about the Supreme Court of India and its judges. 

A letter was written to Mr. KK Venugopal, Attorney General of India seeking consent for initiation of contempt proceedings against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra. Advocate Chandani Shah said on Twitter that she has filed a contempt plea against Kamra for his vile remarks. Shah posted the screenshot of the email that she wrote to the Bar Council of India requesting it to take cognizance of Kamra’s contemptuous remarks against the Supreme Court and the judges. She also filed a cyber complaint against him. 

Here Are Screenshots of Kamra's Tweet:

Also Read: Comedian Kunal Kamra calls SC 'Supreme Joke', lawyers seek Attorney General's consent to initiate contempt of court


Finding Kamra's tweet to be highly objectionable, the AG granted his consent under Section 15(1)(b) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to initiate criminal contempt. Venugopal said, "I find that today people believe that they can boldly and brazenly condemn the Supreme Court of India and its judges by exercising what they believe is their freedom of speech. But under the Constitution, the freedom of speech is subject to the law of contempt and I believe that it is time that people understand that attacking the Supreme Court of India unjustifiedly and brazenly will attract punishment under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1972."

"This is a gross insinuation against the entirety of the Supreme Court of India that the Supreme Court of India is not an independent and impartial institution and so too its judges, but on the other hand is a court of the ruling party, the BJP, existing only for the BJP's benefit," he added. 



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