Tripura's Advocate General Declines Consent To Initiate Contempt Proceedings Against CM Biplab Kumar Deb

The Advocate General for Tripura Siddhartha Shankar Dey today declined to grant his consent to initiate contempt of court proceedings against State's Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb for his alleged remarks "insulting the Courts of India and for scandalizing and attempting to lower its dignity".

The letter requesting AG Dey's consent was sent by a law student, Yashraj Singh Chauhan and in the letter, CM Deb's remarks, which were made during a biennial conference of Tripura Civil Service Officers Association on 25/09/21 were highlighted.

However, declining to grant his consent, AG Dey has said thus:

"The 5 (five) sentences attributed to the Chief Minister, Tripura is, as per assertion of the writer of the Letter Shri Singh, taken out of a speech allegedly made by the Chief Minister, Tripura. Such isolated remarks chosen conveniently without the circumstances and context having been pleaded, lest proved, no case for grant of sanction is made out. Hence, request for sanction is not adhered to."

The letter sent by Singh alleged that CM's remarks constituted a gross contempt of court and undermined the status of the courts of India in view of the fact that he is not a layperson but a person who is sitting on the highest seat of State of Tripura.

The Letter had also translated, into English, some of the alleged contemptuous comments of CM, made originally in Bengali.

It may be noted that as per the media reports, the Chief Minister was speaking during an event of Tripura Civil Service officers last Saturday (September 25) where he has said that they need not worry about 'contempt of court' while delivering services.

Soon thereafter, CM had issued a clarification on his alleged 'contempt of court' remark

"I firmly and unequivocally clarify that I hold all the judicial institutions in highest esteem and also am duty bound to uphold the majesty of the judiciary. I have not told the officers or even remotely intended to convey any message to disregard courts or disrespect court orders as reported. My words have been published out of context," CM said.

Click Here To Download AG's Statement

Read AG's statement here