Delhi High Court issues notice to lawyer who wrote ‘this court is slow to hear my cases’ on VC hearing chat box

The Delhi High Court recently asked a lawyer to show cause why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him for posting contemptuous comments on chat box during the course of hearing of cases through video conference [Sanjeev Kumar vs State NCT of Delhi]. .Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta passed the order after the comments posted by Sanjeev Kumar on May 6, were placed on record before the Court.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)."The comments posted on the WebEx platform through which the High Court holds virtual hearings, were reproduced by the single-judge in the order..The Court observed that Kumar, who is a practicing lawyer, was expected to maintain decorum. However, it said, he had not expressed any remorse and rather chosen to stand by his comments..The Court had in January dismissed Kumar's petition against a trial court's 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.After Kumar was asked to explain his comments on May 9, he told the Court that he would withdraw his review petition and instead move the Supreme Court.The Court said that while Kumar can always exercise the remedies available to him in accordance with the law, the same does not give him the liberty to make contemptuous allegations and undermine the authority of the Court..The single-judge further said that the comments were posted with an intention to interfere with the judicial proceedings and would fall within the ambit of criminal contempt."On the face of record, the comments were placed in public domain with intention to scandalize the Court and are patently contemptuous and interfere with due course of judicial proceedings. Since the comments have been placed to undermine the authority of the Court in the perception of public at large, the same fall within the ambit of criminal contempt under Section 14 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971," it said..Accordingly, the Court directed Kumar to explain why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him.Kumar was directed to file his reply within three days.The matter is listed for hearing on Wednesday..Additional Public Prosecutor Meenakshi Dahiya represented the State[Read Order]