The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (22 April) declined to hear a public interest litigation seeking contempt action against Arvind Kejriwal, several Aam Aadmi Party leaders, and journalist Ravish Kumar over the alleged recording and sharing of courtroom proceedings.
Background of the Case
The petition was moved by Advocate Vaibhav Singh, appearing in person. He alleged that proceedings before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma were recorded without permission and later circulated widely on social media platforms.
The recordings relate to an April 13 hearing where Kejriwal addressed the court personally while seeking the judge’s recusal in matters linked to the liquor policy investigation. According to the petitioner, these clips were shared in breach of court rules governing recording and dissemination of proceedings.
The matter was listed before a Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia.
As the hearing began, the Bench indicated it would not proceed with the case. Chief Justice Upadhyaya stated,
“This matter will not be listed before this Bench. List tomorrow before a Bench where Justice Tejas Karia is not a part.”
During the brief exchange, the Court was also informed that a related issue concerning circulation of similar videos is already pending before another Bench of the High Court.
It was further noted that Justice Karia had earlier been associated, in a professional capacity as a lawyer, with a related matter. This led to his decision to step aside from hearing the present case.
The plea claims that the circulation of the videos was deliberate and coordinated, alleging that it could mislead the public and affect the credibility of judicial proceedings. It seeks initiation of contempt action, removal of such content from online platforms, and preventive steps against further uploads.
The Bench directed that the matter be listed before another Bench, excluding Justice Tejas Karia, on the following day.
Case Title:- Vaibhav Singh v. Delhi High Court & Ors
