<p>The Supreme Court on Friday sought response of Ghaziabad’s Dasna Devi temple priest Yati Narsinghanand in a contempt petition filed against him for alleged derogatory remarks made by him against the top court last year.</p>.<p>A bench of Justices A S Bopanna and M M Sundresh issued notice to the priest and asked him to file his reply on a plea filed by activist Shachi Nelli.</p>.<p>During the brief hearing, senior advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan informed the bench that they have received the consent of then attorney general K K Venugopal for the contempt petition against the alleged contemnor Narsinghnand.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/right-to-possess-forest-land-not-limited-to-sc/st-adivasis-supreme-court-1234617.html" target="_blank">Right to possess forest land not limited to SC/ST, adivasis: Supreme Court</a></strong></p>.<p>The top court had on October 10 last year asked the petitioner to furnish transcription of contents of the video carrying the statements made by Narasinghnand.</p>.<p>On January 22, 2022, Venugopal had granted his consent to a request made by Nelli for initiation of contempt proceedings against the priest.</p>.<p>According to section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, consent of the Attorney General is required before the Supreme Court hears a criminal contempt petition filed by a private individual.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/1996-lajpat-nagar-blasts-sc-awards-life-sentence-without-remission-to-4-accused-1234552.html" target="_blank">1996 Lajpat Nagar blasts: SC awards life sentence without remission to 4 accused</a></strong></p>.<p>Nelli, in his plea, pointed out an alleged contemptuous statement made by Narasinghnand in an interview given to a Youtube channel which went viral on social media on January 14, 2022.</p>.<p>The statements were made in the interview conducted in context of the Haridwar hate speech case pending in the top court. </p>.<p>"The statement being so obviously contemptuous of this court, the petitioner, a social activist, wrote to the Attorney General for consent to initiate contempt against the alleged contemnor, who has granted the same", the plea of Nelli said.</p>.<p>It added, "The alleged contemnor has a huge reach and influence and his statement has been spread far and wide by his followers and sympathisers, leading to widespread disaffection for this court, thereby undermining its authority and bringing its majesty into disrepute".</p>
<p>The Supreme Court on Friday sought response of Ghaziabad’s Dasna Devi temple priest Yati Narsinghanand in a contempt petition filed against him for alleged derogatory remarks made by him against the top court last year.</p>.<p>A bench of Justices A S Bopanna and M M Sundresh issued notice to the priest and asked him to file his reply on a plea filed by activist Shachi Nelli.</p>.<p>During the brief hearing, senior advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan informed the bench that they have received the consent of then attorney general K K Venugopal for the contempt petition against the alleged contemnor Narsinghnand.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/right-to-possess-forest-land-not-limited-to-sc/st-adivasis-supreme-court-1234617.html" target="_blank">Right to possess forest land not limited to SC/ST, adivasis: Supreme Court</a></strong></p>.<p>The top court had on October 10 last year asked the petitioner to furnish transcription of contents of the video carrying the statements made by Narasinghnand.</p>.<p>On January 22, 2022, Venugopal had granted his consent to a request made by Nelli for initiation of contempt proceedings against the priest.</p>.<p>According to section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, consent of the Attorney General is required before the Supreme Court hears a criminal contempt petition filed by a private individual.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/1996-lajpat-nagar-blasts-sc-awards-life-sentence-without-remission-to-4-accused-1234552.html" target="_blank">1996 Lajpat Nagar blasts: SC awards life sentence without remission to 4 accused</a></strong></p>.<p>Nelli, in his plea, pointed out an alleged contemptuous statement made by Narasinghnand in an interview given to a Youtube channel which went viral on social media on January 14, 2022.</p>.<p>The statements were made in the interview conducted in context of the Haridwar hate speech case pending in the top court. </p>.<p>"The statement being so obviously contemptuous of this court, the petitioner, a social activist, wrote to the Attorney General for consent to initiate contempt against the alleged contemnor, who has granted the same", the plea of Nelli said.</p>.<p>It added, "The alleged contemnor has a huge reach and influence and his statement has been spread far and wide by his followers and sympathisers, leading to widespread disaffection for this court, thereby undermining its authority and bringing its majesty into disrepute".</p>