CJI DY Chandrachud Takes Exception To Punjab And Haryana High Court Observations Critical Of Supreme Court, Slams It As 'Scandalous'

On Wednesday (7 August), the Supreme Court vehemently criticised the Punjab and Haryana High Court's harsh remarks as scandalous and unnecessary as per a report by the Hindustan Times.

During a suo moto case hearing, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, leading a five-judge bench, expressed the Supreme Court's dismay at the high court's comments.

CJI Chandrachud emphasised that judges are not offended by orders from higher courts, but there must be discipline. The bench found the Punjab and Haryana High Court judge's observations troubling and excessive.

This issue arose from a Punjab and Haryana High Court judge's unusual order criticising a Supreme Court stay order, suggesting that the apex court views itself as overly supreme and high courts as inferior.

The case in context, titled “In Re: Order of Punjab and Haryana High Court Dated 17.07.2024 and Ancillary Issues,” began after a 17 July order by Justice Rajbir Sehrawat of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Justice Sehrawat had criticised the Supreme Court for staying contempt proceedings initiated by the high court, stating the stay order was issued not during an appeal against the contempt initiation but against the preceding order.

He argued this reflected a psychological tendency to avoid responsibility and an inflated perception of the Supreme Court's supremacy over high courts.

CJI Chandrachud responded that neither the Supreme Court nor high courts are supreme, but the Constitution is. The five-judge bench, including justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, and Hrishikesh Roy, was reviewing the matter.

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