Supreme Court issues contempt notice to litigant, lawyers for "scurrilous allegations" against Telangana HC judge

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to a litigant named Peddi Raju and his lawyers, asking them to explain why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them for allegedly making scurrilous allegations against Telangana High Court judge, Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya [N Peddi Raju v. Anumula Revanth Reddy].

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice Vinod Chandran today said that it would not allow any litigant to make unsubstantiated allegations against a judge.

"We can't permit judges to be put in a box and allow any litigant to make such allegations against a judge. Here, we were trying to protect lawyers," the CJI remarked.

The Court proceeded to record in its order that scurrilous allegations were made against Justice Bhattacharya by the litigant, adding that the lawyers who represented him would also be liable for making such allegations.

The Bench expressed strong displeasure over such allegations, adding that it may consider whether a lenient approach is needed if any apology filed by the litigant and lawyers is found to be genuine.

The allegations in question were made in a petition to transfer a case in which Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy got relief, to a court other than the Telangana High Court. The High Court had quashed certain criminal charges filed against him under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (SC/ST Act). The litigant before the Supreme Court had filed a plea to transfer this case out of the Telangana High Court.

However, things took a dramatic turn after the Supreme Court noticed that the litigant had also made certain allegations against the Telangana High Court judge who had passed the order quashing the SC/ST Act case.

"Scurrilous allegations have been made against a sitting judge of the Telangana High Court. It has been held that it is not only a litigant, but also the lawyer who signs, who is guilty of contempt of court. We thus issue notice to Peddi Raju as well as the lawyers Ritesh Patil and the AoR...they are directed to state why contempt should not be initiated against them. Notice returnable on August 11," the Court ordered.

After the Court raised its objections today, the litigant's lawyers had requested permission to withdraw the transfer plea. However, the Court refused to drop the matter.

"File apology. We will see, to consider or not. We will see if the apology is genuine or not. When we expressed displeasure at the language, liberty was sought to withdraw. We dismissed the request," the Court said.

Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra appeared for Chief Minister Reddy (respondent in the petition before the Supreme Court) in today's hearing.