SC issues show-cause notices to Kunal Kamra, Rachita Taneja on pleas seeking contempt proceedings against them

The Supreme Court on Friday issued show-cause notices to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra and cartoonist Rachita Taneja, on pleas seeking initiation of contempt of court proceedings against them for allegedly denigrating judiciary and judges.

The bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah has asked Kunal Kamra and Rachita Taneja to file their responses within six weeks, adding that they do not need to appear in person before the court.

The top court had reserved its order on Thursday on a batch of pleas seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against Kamra and Taneja.

Attorney General K K Venugopal had granted consent for initiation of criminal contempt proceedings against Kamra, saying the tweets were in "bad taste" and it was time that people understand that attacking the apex court brazenly would attract punishment under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1972.

Similarly, the attorney general had given consent to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against Taneja, stating that the posts were intended to denigrate the Supreme Court and lower its authority in the eyes of the public.

The consent of either the attorney general or the solicitor general is necessary under section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act for initiating contempt proceedings against a person. Criminal contempt of the Supreme Court is punishable with fine up to Rs 2,000 and imprisonment up to six months.

(Inputs from ANI and PTI)

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