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DELHI HIGH COURT JUDGE RECUSES FROM CONTEMPT PLEA AGAINST KEJRIWAL OVER ‘COURT RECORDING’ ROW
NEW DELHI – In a fresh twist to the ongoing legal battles surrounding Arvind Kejriwal, a Delhi High Court judge has recused themselves from hearing a contempt of court petition filed against the Chief Minister. The petition alleges that Kejriwal and his associates violated judicial protocols by circulating video recordings of court proceedings on social media platforms.
The case has now been referred back to the Acting Chief Justice for reassignment to a different bench.
The Contempt Allegation
The plea, filed by an advocate, seeks action against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader for allegedly “reposting” and “circulating” a video clip of a recent court hearing. The hearing in question involved Kejriwal addressing the court directly during the Delhi Excise Policy case.
Under the Delhi High Court Rules for Video Conferencing for Courts, 2021, the unauthorized recording, sharing, or live-streaming of court proceedings is strictly prohibited. The petitioner argues that by circulating the video, Kejriwal and several of his party colleagues committed “criminal contempt,” as it undermines the dignity of the court and interferes with the administration of justice.
Voluntary Withdrawal
During the brief hearing on Monday, the presiding judge expressed the decision to step away from the matter without providing a specific reason—a move commonly referred to as “recusal.”
This development follows a week of intense debate over the concept of recusal in the Delhi High Court. Just days ago, a different bench had rejected a separate request by Kejriwal for a judge to step down in his discharge case, labeling that request “baseless.” However, in this contempt matter, the judge’s decision to voluntarily withdraw ensures that the case is heard by a bench with no perceived conflict of interest.
The ‘Courtroom Speech’ Controversy
The controversy stems from a March hearing where Kejriwal, appearing before a trial court, delivered a nearly 10-minute speech questioning the CBI and ED’s investigation. While the speech was widely reported in text, video recordings of the proceedings surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube shortly after.
The High Court had previously taken a stern view of such recordings. Earlier this year, it had issued notices to social media platforms to remove such content, emphasizing that “courtrooms are not places for creating social media reels or political propaganda.”
Political Fallout
The AAP has consistently maintained that the allegations are part of a “continued witch-hunt” by political rivals. Party sources suggest that the video was shared by supporters to “show the truth” to the public, rather than to disrespect the judiciary.
Opposition leaders, however, have used the contempt plea to attack the CM’s “disregard for institutional norms.”
What Happens Next?
The matter will now be placed before the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, who will assign the case to a new bench. Once a new judge is appointed, the court will decide whether to issue a formal notice to Arvind Kejriwal and other respondents to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them.
For now, the legal battle over “digital decorum” in the Indian judiciary remains in a state of suspense.
