Supreme Court Decides Against Contempt Proceedings for Menaka Gandhi

The Supreme Court has opted not to initiate contempt proceedings against BJP leader and former Union Minister Menaka Gandhi, who criticized its directives regarding the management of stray dogs. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria noted that the former minister had made various comments that could be seen as contemptuous. However, the bench chose to show leniency by refraining from starting contempt proceedings. Justice Mehta also inquired of Gandhi's lawyer about the budget allocations she had facilitated to address the issue of stray dogs during her tenure as a minister. As of now, Menaka Gandhi has not responded to these remarks.

The bench remarked that Gandhi's comments, which held those feeding dogs accountable, were serious rather than satirical, despite facing criticism from some quarters. On January 13, the Supreme Court had stated that it would mandate states to provide "substantial compensation" for dog bite incidents and hold those who feed dogs responsible in such cases. During the questioning of senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, who represented Gandhi, the bench reportedly asked whether he had advised his client about the nature of her comments. They noted that she had made various remarks without careful consideration. 'Have you observed her body language?' they questioned.

Ramachandran responded by stating that he had also represented terrorist Ajmal Kasab, emphasizing that budget allocation is a policy matter. Justice Nath countered, stating that while Kasab did not commit contempt of court, Gandhi had. As of this report, the hearing on the matter is still ongoing. The court has also expressed concerns regarding the lack of enforcement of regulations related to stray animals over the past five years.