Case Law Details
Court on Its own Motion Vs Virendra Singh Advocate (Delhi High Court)
In a recent legal development, the Delhi High Court sentenced Mr. Virendra Singh, an advocate, to six months imprisonment for contempt of court. The case stems from his criminal appeal, Crl.A.107/2022, which was listed for hearing on 14.07.2022 before a learned Single Judge. This article delves into the background of the case, the court proceedings, arguments presented, and the final judgment, offering a thorough examination of each aspect.
Background of the Case: The crux of the matter lies in the criminal appeal filed by Mr. Virendra Singh, where certain allegations against sitting Judges of the Delhi High Court and District Courts were made. The learned Single Judge, upon observing the scandalous nature of the averments in the appeal, sought the contemnor’s response. Despite the opportunity to retract the statements, Mr. Singh insisted on adjudicating the appeal as it stood.
Court Proceedings: The learned Single Judge, in an order dated 14.07.2022, found the allegations to be scandalous and constituting criminal contempt under Section 2(c)(i) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. The judgment highlighted the potential impact on the administration of justice and emphasized the need for an impartial judiciary. Consequently, a notice of contempt was issued against Mr. Singh, leading to the matter being posted before a Division Bench.
Contempt Proceedings: Mr. Singh challenged the maintainability of the contempt notice, arguing that the reference for contempt was defective. He contended that the contemptuous remarks should have been referred along with the criminal appeal to the Hon’ble Chief Justice. The court, after perusing the records, addressed this argument and provided insights into the process leading to the initiation of the contempt proceedings.
Please become a Premium member. If you are already a Premium member, login here to access the full content.
Author Bio
