'Committed contempt': Supreme Court pulls up Maneka Gandhi over stray dog remarks

BJP Leader Maneka Gandhi

• Supreme Court says Maneka Gandhi committed contempt over stray dog remarks
• Court not initiating contempt proceedings against Gandhi, citing magnanimity
• SC may ask states to pay heavy compensation in dog bite cases

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed strong displeasure over former Union minister Maneka Gandhi’s public remarks criticising court orders on the stray dog issue, observing that she has committed contempt of court.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria said Gandhi had made “all kinds of comments” without due consideration. Questioning senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, who appeared on her behalf, the bench asked whether he had reviewed her statements, including a recent podcast.

“You said the court should be circumspect in its remarks, but have you asked your client what kind of remarks she has made? Have you heard her podcast? She has made all kinds of remarks against everybody without even thinking,” the bench said, also referring to her conduct and body language.

The court, however, said it was not initiating contempt proceedings against Gandhi, citing its magnanimity.

During the hearing, Justice Mehta asked what budgetary allocation Gandhi had helped secure during her tenure as a Union minister to address the stray dog problem. In response, Ramachandran said budgetary allocation was a policy matter and added that he had previously appeared even for terrorist Ajmal Kasab.

“Ajmal Kasab did not commit contempt of court, but your client has,” Justice Nath remarked.

The bench also clarified that its earlier observation about holding dog feeders accountable was not sarcastic but made seriously during the course of the hearing.

The matter is still being heard. On January 13, the Supreme Court stated that it would ask states to pay “heavy compensation” in dog bite cases and hold dog owners accountable. The court also flagged the failure to implement norms on stray animals over the past five years.

*With PTI inputs