India, March 26 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday took serious exception to what it described as an attempt to improperly influence judicial proceedings, after it was brought to its notice that the father of a litigant had allegedly called the brother of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to question an order passed by the court.

Disclosing the incident in open court, CJI Kant expressed strong disapproval of the conduct and warned of possible criminal contempt action. "He calls up my brother and asks him how the Chief Justice of India has passed this order. Will he dictate us?" remarked the CJI, visibly perturbed.

The case pertains to a plea filed by Nikhil Kumar Punia, who claimed to have converted to Buddhism and was seeking the benefi...