Objecting to certain averments in the petition seeking a Court-monitored investigation into the violence which took place at Murshidabad, West Bengal, during the protests against the Waqf Amendment Act 2025, the Supreme Court on Monday said integrity and decorum of the institution needs to be maintained.
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh told Advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha, the petitioner who appeared in person, that one has to be careful and responsible with the averments made in a petition filed in the Supreme Court and said, "We should always maintain the integrity and decorum of the institution. Think about what averments are to be made, and what are required to be struck off. Don't seek publicity.”
#WATCH | Murshidabad, West Bengal: Families who migrated from Dhuliyan to a relief camp in Malda, following the violence that broke out in many parts of the district, were brought back amid heavy security. pic.twitter.com/4XGL8YkGrv
— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2025
The court noted that the petition by advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha was filed in haste and it contained allegations against certain government functionaries though those persons were not added as parties to the plea.
"You are making allegations against certain individuals who are not before us. Allegation against anyone you need to implead them. Can we accept those allegations behind those persons," the Bench asked.
Justice Kant said that since the Supreme Court is a Court of record, the pleadings filed in the Court will be there for posterity, and hence, there was a need to maintain decency in the pleadings and avoid offensive statements.
"We respect every citizen who wants to come to us, they are welcome. But with a sense of responsibility. Be careful about what averments are made," Justice Kant told him.
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When the petitioner agreed to amend the petition, Justice Kant said, "That is why we said, you were in hurry...Yes, justice to voiceless people must be done, but do in proper manner. Not like this."
The Court permitted Jha to withdraw the petition with liberty to file a fresh one with better material and averments.
Another petition filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari was also withdrawn after Tiwari himself requested the same to include aspects relating to comments against Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna.
"File a fresh plea. Whatever averments you want to raise you can. Maintain decorum and dignity of the institution. Averments should be decent, respectful. Article 32 plea must raise good questions of law with interesting legal material Rest of the things we forget when we sit here,” the bench said.
