Lawyers get three months Jail for Contempt, Supreme Court

The SC on May 4, 2020 {RE : VIJAY KURLE & ORS.} sentenced all the three contemnors namely Vijay Kurle, Nilesh Ojha and Rashid Khan Pathan, to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of 3 months each with a fine of Rs. 2000/-. It was directed that in default of payment of fine, each of the defaulting contemnors shall undergo further simple imprisonment for a period of 15 days. The main Contempt Petition was disposed of on 27.04.2020 by the SC vide detailed judgment holding all of them in Contempt. 

It was further held by the SC Bench, comprising of Justice Deepak Gupta &  Justice Aniruddha Bose, that there is not an iota of remorse or any semblance of apology on behalf of the contemnors. The SC held that in view of the scurrilous and scandalous allegations levelled against the judges of the Court and no remorse being shown by any of the contemnors, they cannot be let off leniently. The Court  held that the complaints were sent by the contemnors with a view to intimidate the Judges who were yet to hear Shri Nedumpara on the question of punishment, so that no action against Shri Nedumpara is taken. Therefore, it was held that it is obvious that this is a concerted effort to virtually hold the Judiciary to ransom. 

However, keeping in view the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown conditions the Court directed that this sentence shall come into force after 16 weeks, when the contemnors should surrender before the Secretary General of the Court to undergo the imprisonment. Otherwise, warrants for their arrest shall be issued. The interim applications for recall of judgment dated 27/04/2020 & permission to file Writ Petition to challenge the said judgment, were also dismissed by the SC as not maintainable.