CJI Kant Warns Man Of Contempt For Calling His Brother, Questioning Order: 'Will He Dictate To Me?'

Last Updated:March 25, 2026, 22:53 IST

The Chief Justice was reportedly infuriated after the petitioner's father called his brother and objected to the order, warning of criminal contempt proceedings.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Wednesday warned a litigant of contempt after his father made a phone call to the CJI’s brother and objected to a judicial order regarding minority reservation for a medical post-graduate course.

The matter pertained to Nikhil Kumar Punia, who sought a minority reservation after converting to Buddhism in Uttar Pradesh’s Subharti Medical College. The Supreme Court, on January 28, observed that the plea was a “new type of fraud", and directed an inquiry into the petitioner’s minority certificates.

The Chief Justice was reportedly infuriated after the petitioner’s father called his brother and objected to the order. “Nobody dares to do this. And you think I will transfer the case because of this? I have dealt with such elements for the last 23 years," he said while hearing a medical admission case.

Speaking to the litigant’s counsel, CJI Kant said, “Now you tell us why we should not initiate criminal contempt against the father of your client. What he (father) has done, should I disclose in open court? He calls up my brother and asks him how the Chief Justice of India has passed this order. Will he dictate to me?"

The Chief Justice called the incident “sheer misconduct", while the advocate apologised by saying he was not aware of the incident. The court adjourned the matter to next week after noting that Haryana had not filed a compliance report regarding the guidelines for issuing minority certificates, including whether general category candidates could get a minority certificate after claiming to convert to Buddhism.

The court had earlier questioned how candidates from the Punia Jat community, who are traditionally classified under the General category, could obtain minority certificates after multiple prior attempts as non-minority applicants.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Tuesday held that any individual who converts to a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism cannot claim Scheduled Caste status under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

News india CJI Kant Warns Man Of Contempt For Calling His Brother, Questioning Order: 'Will He Dictate To Me?'

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