Supreme Court Urges P&H High Court To Take Lenient View In Suo Motu Case Against Journalist Over Allegations Against Authorities

The Supreme Court yesterday asked the Punjab and Haryana High Court to take a lenient view in a suo motu case involving journalist Pradeep Sharma over certain allegations made against authorities, including judges.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi passed the order, after "genuine repentance" was conveyed on behalf of Sharma over emails written by him between 2023-25 in violation of an undertaking given before the High Court.

In the impugned order, the High Court noted that despite giving an undertaking in 2023, Sharma had written over 200 emails containing allegations against authorities.

Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat appeared for Sharma and submitted that since the High Court order, no public post had been made by him. When the senior counsel mentioned that only confidential emails were written to the authorities, Justice Kant questioned whether such emails can really remain confidential.

"Do you think the emails will remain confidential? It goes to the PP, the dealing staff...they will take on Whatsapp and mobile, it will be communicated everywhere...if you have some genuine grievance, what prevents you from sending a sealed envelope to the Chief Justice of the High Court?", the judge posed to Kamat.

In response, Kamat submitted that Sharma may be pardoned for writing the emails and acceded that henceforth, he will send a sealed envelop to the CJ of the High Court, if need be. It was further stated that Sharma is willing to tender an unconditional apology before the High Court as well as the Supreme Court.

In this backdrop, the bench recorded the submission that none of the subject emails were put out in public domain, yet the petitioner would give an unconditional undertaking that he shall not do so in future.

Subject to the petitioner filing the undertaking, the High Court was requested to take a lenient view with an endeavor to close the suo motu proceedings. On an oral prayer, the top Court also impleaded the High Court, through its Registrar General, as a party-respondent.

Before parting, Justice Kant remarked to Kamat, "I think he (petitioner) has been misguided and misled...advise him...when you start sitting in bad company, this is how it happens".

The judge further added, "Sometimes he has been doing good job writing, pointing out against some impropriety of judicial officers, etc. and we have always appreciated, but you can't really unleash the...only to defame the system...you don't find any other class of people and target...".

Notably, the bench deprecated the petitioner's sharing dias with dismissed Punjab Police DSP Balwinder Singh Sekhon, who is accused of making scandalous videos and remarks against Punjab and Haryana High Court judges. Kamat acknowledged that the same should not have happened, while submitting that the petitioner got into the whole mess with Sekhon and even underwent 3 months' imprisonment, but ever since, he has not written even a single post.

Case Title: PARDEEP SHARMA Versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS., SLP(Crl) No. 14376/2025