Supreme Court Warns Uddhav Camp Over Media Statements
The Chief Justice objected to public remarks suggesting the court was delaying the Shiv Sena split case
The Supreme Court on Friday strongly reprimanded the Uddhav Thackeray faction over remarks made in the media regarding the pending Shiv Sena split case, warning that attempts to influence judicial proceedings through public statements would not be tolerated.
Hearing the long-running dispute arising out of the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena, Chief Justice Surya Kant cautioned the Thackeray camp against making what he termed “irresponsible statements” about the court’s handling of the matter.
“First you stop your people from going to the media and making irresponsible statements… saying that ‘Supreme Court is not deciding’,” the Chief Justice observed during the hearing.
“You seek a date here and then say ‘Supreme Court is not deciding’. We are issuing a warning. Be careful about your words. I am not a person who will accept this kind of conduct,” the bench said.
The court made it clear that judicial proceedings cannot be influenced through media pressure or public rhetoric and stressed that the judiciary would allocate hearing time according to due process.
“If any party thinks they can put pressure on the court through the media, that conduct will not be tolerated. Judicial process cannot be influenced by external rhetoric,” the Chief Justice said, adding that the court expected cooperation from all sides involved in the case.
The sharp remarks came after lawyers representing the Uddhav Thackeray faction sought an expedited hearing in the matter, arguing that the case had remained pending for nearly three years.
Senior advocate Devdatt Kamat, appearing for the Thackeray camp, told the bench that his side was ready for arguments whenever the court fixed a schedule.
“We have no difficulty… whenever your lordships have a couple of hours’ time for each side your lordships may fix it. We are anxious because for three years we have been waiting,” Kamat submitted.
Responding to the court’s concerns over public comments, Kamat assured the bench of full cooperation.
The Shinde faction also backed the court’s observations and said no party should attempt to pressure the judiciary through media campaigns.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Eknath Shinde camp, said, “We know how much pressure is upon the court. Our side hasn’t done it. It should not be made by any side. Lawyers will never support such comments.”
The Chief Justice remarked that the court had continued hearing matters despite a heavy workload and should not face unfair criticism.
“We are sitting here till 4 pm… if somebody finds us sitting idle we can understand that,” the Chief Justice observed.
Rohatgi responded by praising the court’s patience in dealing with all parties involved in the politically sensitive case.
“There is no doubt that the court has been very patient and kind to everybody. No litigant has a right to say anything against it… on whichever side,” he said.
The case relates to the political crisis that unfolded in Maharashtra in June 2022 when Eknath Shinde led a rebellion involving 39 Shiv Sena MLAs, eventually bringing down the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government.
The split triggered a prolonged legal battle between the two factions over the Shiv Sena party name, election symbol and disqualification proceedings against legislators.
The Supreme Court has now listed the matter for further hearing on July 30.
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