Delhi High Court initiates contempt case against lawyer for comments that Court is slow and scared

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday ordered initiation of contempt of court proceedings against a lawyer who had recently posted contemptuous comments on the chat box during video conferencing hearing [Sanjeev Kumar vs State of NCT Of Delhi]

Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta had earlier asked Advocate Sanjeev Kumar, who was appearing in person, to explain his conduct and show cause why the matter should not be sent to the concerned Division Bench for proceedings against Contempt of Courts Act against him.

The Court in the order dated May 15 said the reply filed by Kumar was again “grossly contemptuous” and that there was hardly any relevant explanation for posting the comments in the chat box on May 06.

“In the facts and circumstances, Registrar General is directed to place the records of the judicial proceedings before Hon’ble the Acting Chief Justice for referring the matter to the concerned Hon’ble Division Bench handling ‘criminal contempt’. Petitioner is also directed to appear before the concerned Hon’ble Roster Division Bench on 17.05.2024,” it ordered.

The Court reasoned that the response reflected that Kumar was habitual of making complainants and defaming the judges of the district court who have dealt with and passed any adverse order in any proceedings filed by him.

“This Court is of the considered opinion that reckless allegations made against several Judicial Officers of the District Courts as well as the comments placed by the petitioner in the public domain in the Chat Box have grave implications and potentiality of mischief, if the same are not curbed with a firm hand,” the Court said.

It added that the allegations imputing motives and intemperate language had been intentionally used to scandalize the proceedings undertaken by courts.

The same tends to bring the authority and administration of justice into disrespect, and tantamounts to contempt, Justice Mendiratta remarked.

“Petitioner appears to have taken a wrong end of law, aggrieved against adverse orders passed by the Judicial Officers of the District Courts as well as this Court and cannot be permitted to cross the red line, thereby making personal attack on the Judges which undermines the integrity of the Institution,” the Single Judge said.

The Court had in January dismissed Kumar's petition against a trial court order with a cost of ₹25,000. He then filed a review petition against the order.

The comments were posted by Kumar a day before the hearing of his matter. Justice Mendiratta has now recused from the case and ordered that it may be placed before another bench. 

One of the comments posted by Kumar read as follows:

"But this court is slow to hear my cases, Jo darta hai, wo kabhi justice nhi kar payega (one who has fear will not be able to do justice)."

Additional Public Prosecutor Meenakshi Dahiya represented the State.