The Supreme Court of India has taken a significant and rare step by initiating suo motu criminal contempt proceedings against Chandigarh-based journalist and YouTuber Ajay Shukla. The case, titled IN RE: SCANDALOUS REMARKS MADE BY MR. AJAY SHUKLA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, VARPRAD MEDIA PVT. LTD., is set to be heard this Friday by a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih, with the third judge yet to be nominated.
This marks the first suo motu criminal contempt case by the apex court in 2025—a strong signal that the judiciary is prepared to act decisively when it believes the sanctity of the institution is at stake. While the Court has not officially disclosed the exact content of the remarks, reports suggest that the trigger may have been a video posted on Shukla’s YouTube channel, Varprad Media Pvt. Ltd., which commented on the recent retirement of Justice Bela M. Trivedi.
In that video, Shukla allegedly used the term “Godi judge”—a phrase often interpreted as describing individuals perceived to be unduly close to or supportive of the ruling government. When such terms are aimed at sitting or recently retired judges, the judiciary may see them as attempts to erode public confidence in the court’s independence and integrity.
The Constitution, under Article 129, empowers the Supreme Court to punish for contempt of itself. The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, further defines criminal contempt as any publication or act that scandalizes or tends to scandalize, or lowers or tends to lower, the authority of any court.
At its heart, this case is not just about a video or a particular phrase. It is about the delicate balance between freedom of speech and the need to preserve the dignity of the judiciary—an institution that forms the cornerstone of our democracy. As the matter unfolds, it will raise important questions for both the media and the legal community about how far commentary can go before it crosses the line into contempt.
For now, all eyes will be on the Bench this Friday—on how it weighs the scales of justice in an age where public discourse is instantaneous, widespread, and, at times, unforgiving.
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