Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Monday urged people to "ignore" last week's courtroom disruption in the Supreme Court, saying such incidents occasionally occur and should not overshadow the dignity of constitutional institutions. Addressing the matter publicly for the first time, the Chief Justice said maintaining the prestige of the judiciary and other constitutional bodies was of greater importance than focusing on the behaviour of an individual litigant. His remarks came days after an unusual disruption inside the apex court during judicial proceedings.

"Ignore the incident. Youngsters sometimes do such things," Chief Justice Surya Kant said while referring to the episode. He added that every citizen has a responsibility to protect the dignity and image of constitutional institutions. Stressing the need to preserve public confidence in the judiciary, he said all stakeholders must work to ensure that these institutions continue to command respect and maintain their standing in the democratic framework.

The incident occurred on July 10 when a petitioner appearing in person, identified as Prabal Pratap, allegedly disrupted proceedings before a bench headed by the Chief Justice. Introducing himself as "the sovereign", the petitioner referred to the judges as "judicial servants" and demanded that the court direct the registration of an FIR against an Additional Superintendent of Police in Lucknow over alleged cybercrime-related activities. Justice K.V. Viswanathan questioned the petitioner's manner of addressing the bench after he attempted to issue directions to the court.

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According to proceedings in court, the petitioner subsequently began verbally abusing the Chief Justice and threw papers inside the courtroom, interrupting the hearing. Security personnel immediately intervened, escorted him out of the courtroom and detained him for some time at the Deputy Superintendent of Police's office within the Supreme Court complex. Despite the disruption, the bench decided not to initiate contempt proceedings or adopt any coercive measures against him.

While declining to pursue legal action, the bench observed that the petitioner appeared to be under considerable distress. The court remarked that the incident seemed to stem from frustration and stated that it had sympathy for the individual rather than a desire to punish him. The decision reflected the court's preference to restore normal proceedings without escalating the matter further through contempt action.

The incident, however, drew strong criticism from legal bodies representing members of the Supreme Court Bar. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) condemned the disruption, stating that the dignity and majesty of the court must be respected at all times and that attempts to abuse, threaten or disrupt judicial proceedings undermine the administration of justice. The Supreme Court Arguing Counsel Association also wrote to the Chief Justice seeking strict action against those responsible for the courtroom commotion, underscoring the legal fraternity's concern over maintaining decorum within the country's highest court.

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