'Dealt with such elements for last 23 years': CJI Surya Kant fumes over litigant's father calling his brother

NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Wednesday took umbrage at the conduct of a litigant whose father made a phone call to the CJI's brother objecting to a judicial order regarding minority reservation for a medical post-graduate course.
The matter pertains to one Nikhil Kumar Punia, born into Haryana's Jaat Puniya community, seeking a minority reservation after converting to Buddhism in Uttar Pradesh's Subharti Medical College.

On January 28, the Supreme Court, while observing that the plea was a "new type of fraud", had directed an inquiry into the petitioner's minority certificates.

On Wednesday, the CJI was infuriated while referring to the "shocking" incident and said, "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."

He went on and said, "Now you tell us why we should not initiate criminal contempt against the father of your client. What he (father) has done, should I disclose in open court?

"He calls up my brother and asks him how the Chief Justice of India has passed this order. Will he dictate to me?"

Slamming the conduct, he told the advocate, "You verify it (the conduct). As counsel, you should first consider withdrawing. This is sheer misconduct. Even if he is outside India, I know how to deal with such people."

To this, the advocate apologised.

"I am very sorry, Sir, but I am not aware of all this," he said.

The court adjourned the matter to next week after noting that Haryana had not filed a compliance report regarding the guidelines for issuing minority certificates, including whether general category candidates could get a minority certificate after claiming to convert to Buddhism