Why Supreme Court Did Not Initiate Contempt Against Petitioner Who Abused CJI, Threw Case Papers
The Supreme Court declined to initiate contempt proceedings against petitioner Prabal Pratap after he threw case papers, hurled abuses at judges and verbally abused the Chief Justice of India during a hearing. A Bench of Justices KV Viswanathan and Alok Aradhe said it would not take action considering the petitioner's condition and dismissed his Special Leave Petition on merits.
The Supreme Court on Friday, July 10, chose not to initiate any action against a litigant who disrupted court proceedings by throwing case papers, hurling abuses at judges and verbally abusing the Chief Justice of India (CJI) before being escorted out by security personnel. Despite the incident, the Bench observed that it would not proceed against the petitioner considering his condition.
A Bench of Justices KV Viswanathan and Alok Aradhe was hearing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by petitioner-in-person Prabal Pratap challenging an April 2026 judgment of the Allahabad High Court when the courtroom disruption took place. Supreme Court Hearing Interrupted After Petitioner Creates Ruckus, Throws Papers and Uses Abusive Language (Watch Video).
Petitioner Abuses CJI, Flings Papers in Supreme Court
What Happened Inside the Courtroom?
According to the court proceedings, Prabal Pratap did not begin by making legal submissions. Instead, he addressed the Bench in an unusual manner. “Mr judicial servant, I order you to order the registration of an FIR against the Assistant Commissioner of Police of Lucknow,” he said.
Justice KV Viswanathan immediately responded: “You are ordering me? You are ordering us?” Pratap then replied: “That is all from my side. Everything is on record.” Does Summoning Hotel Records, Call Data To Prove Adultery Violate Right to Privacy? Supreme Court Answers.
Moments later, he allegedly threw case papers into the air, hurled abuses in open court and, while being escorted out by security personnel, also verbally abused the Chief Justice of India.
Why Did the Supreme Court Not Take Action?
Despite the disruption, the Bench decided against initiating contempt or any other proceedings. In its order uploaded later in the day, the Supreme Court recorded the incident. “When this matter was taken up, Mr. Prabal Pratap, who appeared as petitioner-in-person on behalf of both the petitioners in this matter, instead of presenting the case, made incoherent and unparliamentary utterances.”
The Bench said it had taken note of the petitioner's condition before deciding not to proceed further. “We have, however, considering the condition of the petitioner above named, do not propose to take any action against him.” The court did not elaborate on the nature of the petitioner's condition.
Petition Dismissed on Merits
While declining to take action over the courtroom incident, the Bench also examined the merits of the case. After reviewing the records, it found no reason to interfere with the Allahabad High Court's judgment.
“As far as the merit of this case is concerned, we have perused the records, we find no good ground to interfere with the impugned judgment/order(s). The Special Leave Petition is, accordingly, dismissed.”
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 10, 2026 08:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).