High Court Accepts Litigant's Apology For Calling Delhi Judiciary Corrupt 'Out Of Sheer Frustration', Discharges Him Of Criminal Contempt

The Delhi High Court has discharged a litigant of criminal contempt proceedings initiated against him for calling the Delhi judiciary corrupt, levelling allegations against a judicial officer and using abusive language against him.

A division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Shailender Kaur accepted the unconditional apology tendered by the contemner, Brijesh Shukla, who submitted that he made complaints and allegation against the judiciary “just out of sheer frustration.”

“He tenders an unconditional apology for making such comment and remorse to this effect and undertakes before this Court that he shall be careful in future. In view of the above and unconditional apology tendered by respondent, we hereby discharge the respondent from the contempt proceedings,” the court said.

The suo motu criminal contempt proceedings were initiated against Shukla in terms of the directions issued by the Vigilance Committee for members of DHJS and DJS in 2019.

Shukla had filed a suit before the trial court against a company who misappropriated his money he had to get from the Fiji Government, for whom he was working as a contractor in Fiji.

The suit was partially decreed ex-parte whereby it was held that the company was not liable to pay any amount to Shukla.

While closing the contempt case, the court noted that the allegations made against the judicial officer and and entire judiciary was out of sheer frustration and depression.

“The respondent submits that as he had not engaged any counsel so he was not aware that by making such allegations against the judiciary and judicial system will initiate contempt proceedings. He submits that he made complaints and allegation against the judiciary like he made against any other authority and this is just out of sheer frustration,” the court noted.

Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION v. BRIJESH SHUKLA

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 1259

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