SC issues contempt notice to Kerala Congress over CJI post

The Supreme Court on Friday, 6 November 2026 issued a contempt notice to office-bearers of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) over a social media post calling for the resignation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M Pancholi asked the office-bearers to show cause why contempt proceedings should not be initiated, stating that no individual or political organisation is above the Constitution. The court said it would examine whether the KPCC's unconditional apology 'has come from the pen or the heart'.

The post, published on the official X handle of Congress Kerala on 12 October, read: 'Dear Surya Kant, If law and order is not your domain, resign now. We will find your replacement who can handle it.' It was deleted the same day. The KPCC told the court that the post was published by a party worker, Vijay Thottathil, without the leadership's knowledge, and that he has been removed. The court indicated it may appoint senior advocates Arvind Datar and Gaurav Agarwal or Siddharth Agarwal as amici curiae and sought the assistance of the Attorney General. The next hearing is on 15 December.

Update, 6 November 2026: LiveLaw reports that the court indicated it may appoint Senior Advocates Arvind Datar and Siddharth Agarwal as amicus curiae, and that the Attorney General was also requested to assist. Hindustan Times adds context that the post appeared during Opposition protests over the Chief Election Commissioner and that Rahul Gandhi had earlier sought a meeting with the CJI which was declined.