New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday strongly objected to the conduct of a petitioner after it was revealed that his father had contacted the brother of Chief Justice Surya Kant regarding a court order.
A bench led by the Chief Justice, while hearing a plea filed by petitioner Nikhil Kumar Poonia, questioned why criminal defamation proceedings should not be initiated against his father.
“Are you aware of what he has done? Should I disclose it in open court?” the bench asked the petitioner’s counsel, expressing serious concern over the alleged attempt to influence judicial proceedings.
The Chief Justice remarked that such behaviour was unacceptable, stating that no one has the audacity to act in such a manner. He also rejected any suggestion that such actions could lead to a transfer of the case.
The petitioner’s counsel expressed lack of knowledge about the incident and repeatedly apologised before the court. The bench advised the counsel to verify the facts and consider withdrawing the case, terming the conduct as “gross misconduct”.
The matter relates to alleged fraudulent admissions of general category candidates into postgraduate medical courses under the minority quota at a medical college in Meerut. The court had earlier termed the issue a “new kind of fraud”.
Noting that the candidates had applied as general category applicants in NEET-PG 2025 and were not from the economically weaker section (EWS), the court had earlier dismissed the plea seeking admission under the minority quota.
The court has now sought a compliance report from the Haryana government on its earlier directions. It warned that if the report is not filed, the state’s Chief Secretary will have to appear personally before the court on the next date of hearing.
The hearing has been adjourned to next week, while the court continues to examine the process of issuing minority certificates and the legality of such claims.
