Karnataka High Court Drops Criminal Contempt Proceedings Against Man Who Threatened To Kill SC Judges, Advocates

"We have left you at this stage but be careful, don't spoil your old age, otherwise next time we will not leave you," the Karnataka High Court on Friday told a 72-year-old man who had threatened to kill Judges and Advocates.A division bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum has dropped the suo-motu criminal contempt proceedings initiated against him in response to a letter he had written to the High Court registry claiming that he has decided to kill two erring Judges amongst the "highly corrupt 28 Judges of this Court and the Apex Court along with two corrupt Advocates". In its order, the Bench said,"We take note of the fact that the court after June 23, has fixed several dates to watch his (accused SV Srinivasa Rao) conduct, such as June 29, August 11 and September 13. Nothing discrete has been found which may pursue us to proceed any further against the accused." It added, "Considering the entire aspects of the matter and particularly the advance age of the accused and him being apologetic and aware of the misconduct committed by him, we drop the contempt proceedings at this stage." The court in its order also noted that the accused has submitted his apologies on an affidavit, it is submitted by him that due to depression and frustration he had lost his mental balance and therefore made such scandalous allegations which he repents. Affidavit of June 23, 2021 giving unconditional apology has been filed and has assured the court he will not indulge in making such allegations. It is submitted that he will be more careful in future. The court had on February 3, initiated the suo-motu proceedings stating, "The allegations made in the said letter prima facie constitute a criminal contempt under clause (c) of Section 2 of the said Act." The letter sent to the registry on January 29, made scandalous allegations against a Senior Judge, alleging that the said Judge is acting under the influence of retired Judges of the Supreme Court. "No person can be permitted to intimidate or terrorize the Judges by making scandalous, unwarranted and baseless imputations," the High Court had said. It added, "On the face of it, the allegations tend to scandalize the Courts. Such allegations will definitely interfere with the due course of judicial proceedings. The allegations tend to obstruct the administration of justice. The members of the Bar are also an integral part of the judicial system. By making such scandalous allegations against the members of the Bar, if they are deterred from appearing in the cases, it will amount to obstruction in the administration of justice." Case Title: High Court Of Karnataka v. S V Srinivasa Rao Case No: CRL.CCC 1/2021

Karnataka High Court Drops Criminal Contempt Proceedings Against Man Who Threatened To Kill SC Judges, Advocates

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