SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS CONVICTION OF ADVOCATE IN CONTEMPT CASE: NEED TO MAINTAIN DIGNITY AND REPUTATION OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS

The Supreme Court in the case Gulshan Bajwa vs. Registrar, the High Court Or Delhi observed and has convicted an advocate in a seventeen-year-old criminal contempt case, reiterated that an apology must be evidence of remorse for the contemptuous acts.

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The court stated that it must be used as a weapon 'to purge the guilty of their offence'.

Further, the court stated that an apology lacking sincerity and not evidencing contriteness cannot be accepted.

The Division bench comprising of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice PS Narasimha was hearing an appeal of one Gulshan Bajwa, a lawyer, who was convicted by the Delhi High Court dated October 19, 2006 of criminal contempt.

Thus, Bajwa, inter-alia, made improper and reckless allegations against the Judges.

Moreover, the court stated that he continuously failed to appear before the High Court.

Multiple ways were adopted to secure the appellant's presence, without any avail.

The High Court bench comprising of Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice G.S. Sistani in the case observed and has pointed out several instances where the appellant's conduct was scrutinised in different proceedings.