'Ajmal Kasab Didn't Commit Contempt Of Court, Your Client Did': Why Is Supreme Court Angry With Maneka Gandhi?

New Delhi: The atmosphere in the Supreme Court became heated during the hearing on stray dog management when the apex court expressed strong displeasure over remarks made by BJP leader and former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi. 

What did the Supreme Court say?

However, the apex court has refrained from initiating contempt of court proceedings against her for now. During the hearing, Justice Vikram Nath, commenting sharply on the arguments of Maneka Gandhi's lawyer, said that Ajmal Kasab had not committed contempt of court, but his client had.

The bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria clearly stated that Maneka Gandhi had made "all sorts of comments" regarding the court's orders, and this conduct amounts to contempt. The bench said that the court was not initiating contempt proceedings at this stage only due to its "magnanimity."

What happened in the Supreme Court?

During the hearing, Justice Sandeep Mehta directly questioned senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, appearing for Maneka Gandhi, about her role in budget allocation for addressing the stray dog problem when she herself was a Union Minister. The bench also clarified that the comment about fixing accountability on those who feed dogs was made not in jest, but with complete seriousness. The court had indicated on January 13 that states could be ordered to pay heavy compensation in dog bite cases, and the responsibility of dog feeders would also be determined.

"You are asking the court to exercise restraint, but have you seen your client's comments? She has made statements against everyone without thinking. Have you seen her body language?" the bench asked in a sharp pointer to Raju Ramachandran.

To this, Ramachandran replied that he had also represented terrorist Ajmal Kasab and that budget allocation is a matter of policy. 

The Supreme Court also expressed concern that the rules regarding stray animals have not been properly implemented for the past five years. The court questioned the inaction of municipal bodies and state governments.

What is Maneka Gandhi's stance on the issue?

Maneka Gandhi has previously opposed the "forceful approach" against stray dogs. She has maintained that the problem is not the dogs themselves, but the failure of municipal bodies. According to her, sterilization programs are limited to paper, waste management is failing, and hospitals are dumping waste in the open. Therefore, blaming the dogs is not a solution to the problem. Currently, the Supreme Court is hearing this case.