Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Wednesday came down heavily on a litigant while revealing that the latter’s father allegedly telephoned the former’s brother to question an order passed by the court, according to various media reports.
The sharp rebuke was delivered in open court. The CJI reportedly asked why the court should not order contempt proceedings against the petitioner’s father.
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The reprimand was related to an order passed by the Supreme Court in connection with a plea where the petitioners have sought admission through reserved seats in a minority educational institution.
“He calls up my brother and asks him how the Chief Justice of India has passed this order,” CJI Surya Kant said to the petitioner’s counsel, according to legal news outlet Bar and Bench.
“I am not aware of this, Your Lordship,” the counsel replied. “You verify it. As counsel, you should first consider withdrawing. This is sheer misconduct. Even if he (the petitioner’s father) is outside India, I know how to deal with such people,” CJI Surya Kant said in a stern warning.
The counsel subsequently apologised, maintaining that they were not aware of the alleged phone call.
“Nobody dares to do this. And you think I will transfer the case because of this? I have dealt with such elements for the last 23 years,” the CJI said, Bar and Bench reported.
CASE BACKGROUND
The matter reportedly pertains to a petition filed by one Nikhil Kumar Punia, who was born into an upper-caste Hindu family but supposedly converted to Buddhism later.
He, along with another General Category candidate, has sought minority reservation benefits for admission to a Buddhist medical college on grounds of their purported conversion.
While hearing the matter in January this year, a Supreme Court bench led by CJI Surya Kant had expressed strong doubts about the petitioners’ claims of conversion and had ordered a probe into their minority certificates, Live Law said in a report.
The bench had even termed the petition as a “new type of fraud.”
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Published On:
Mar 25, 2026 21:04 IST
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