Supreme Court Slams Journalist Ajay Shukla with Suo Motu Contempt for “Godi Judge” Remark

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The Supreme Court has initiated a suo motu contempt case against Chandigarh-based journalist Ajay Shukla. The move follows his alleged use of the term “Godi judge” in a video on Justice Bela Trivedi’s retirement.

New Delhi: Today, On May 29, The Supreme Court of India has started a suo motu criminal contempt of court case against Ajay Shukla, a journalist and YouTuber from Chandigarh, who is also the Editor-in-Chief of Varprad Media Pvt. Ltd., a digital news channel.

This means the court has taken action on its own without any formal complaint being filed.

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It is scheduled to be heard on Friday by a three-judge bench, which includes Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, Justice Augustine George Masih, and a third judge who has not been announced yet.

This is the first suo motu criminal contempt petition taken up by the Supreme Court this year. The exact comments made by Ajay Shukla that triggered the contempt case have not yet been clearly disclosed.

But, a look into Shukla’s YouTube channel shows that he recently uploaded a video related to the retirement of Supreme Court judge Justice Bela M. Trivedi.

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In the title of that video, he allegedly used the term “Godi judge”, which is often used to criticise people or organisations accused of blindly supporting or favouring the Central Government.

The phrase is a play on the term “Godi media”, commonly used in India to describe media outlets seen as pro-government.

The use of such a phrase in the context of a sitting Supreme Court judge, especially one who has recently retired, is likely what led to the Supreme Court stepping in on its own.

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While we await further clarity on the specific remarks that led to this case, this development shows that the court is taking very seriously any comments made in public that could damage the reputation of the judiciary or bring disrespect to the courts.

Case Title:
“IN RE: SCANDALOUS REMARKS MADE BY MR. AJAY SHUKLA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, VARPRAD MEDIA PVT. LTD., A DIGITAL CHANNEL”.

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