New Delhi, May 15 -- On his first day as the Chief Justice of India, Justice B.R. Gavai rebuked Madhya Pradesh Tribal Welfare Minister Vijay Shah, directing him to apologise for his inappropriate and offensive remarks targeting Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a senior Indian Army officer.

A bench led by CJI Gavai, hearing Shah's petition seeking interim protection from arrest, minced no words in criticising the minister's conduct.

"What sort of comments are you making?" the Chief Justice asked pointedly. "You should show some sense of sensibility. Go and apologise in the High Court," he directed.

The Supreme Court refused to grant any interim relief from arrest, underlining that those in public office are not above the law, especially when the...