NEW DELHI, May 31 -- The Supreme Court of India has initiated contempt proceedings against YouTuber Ajay Shukla for allegedly making defamatory remarks about the judiciary. The court took suo motu cognizance of a video posted by Shukla, which purportedly contained allegations undermining the authority and integrity of the judiciary.

Contempt of court in India is governed by the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, which defines contempt as any act that scandalizes or tends to scandalize the authority of any court, prejudices or interferes with the due course of any judicial proceedings, or obstructs or tends to obstruct the administration of justice.

The Supreme Court has previously emphasized the importance of maintaining the dignity of the j...