The Indian Supreme Court (SC) reduced Friday a sentence in a criminal contempt of court case by the Delhi High Court (DHC) against a lawyer, Virendra Singh, over his remarks against the judges of the DHC. The lawyer was convicted and sentenced to six months in prison and a fine of 2,000 rupees.

The SC, in its order, noted that the lawyer had filed an apology on January 18, 2024, addressing misconduct. The court further emphasized that while the high court’s contempt order was deemed justifiable based on the lawyer’s conduct, considering the apology, the court decided to reduce the sentence to the period already undergone by the lawyer.

In July 2022, Singh filed a plea accusing DHC judges of acting arbitrarily. He also accused judges of deliberately twisting issues in their orders, favoring the accused illegally. Furthermore, Singh refused the court’s directive to amend the plea and remove the objectionable portions. Subsequently, a single-judge bench issued a contempt notice, and the case was transferred to a two-judge division bench of DHC.

Singh approached the SC against the January 9 DHC judgment, convicting him of criminal contempt of court and sentencing him to imprisonment and to pay a fine. However, the SC provided the contemnor Singh with an opportunity to furnish an apology for his remarks in its January 12 order. The court instructed the petitioner to submit apologies to the concerned judges by 2 PM on January 16, 2024. Police authorities were directed to ensure the petitioner’s in-person appearance before each judge requiring an apology.

Subsequently, the DHC heard Singh on January 16 and noted in its order that Singh, in compliance with SC’s January 12 order, submitted an affidavit apologizing, clarifying that he did not intend to scandalize a judge. It was also noted that Singh expressed remorse, pledging caution to avoid such mistakes in the future, emphasizing that the error was unintentional and made in the pursuit of justice. Subsequently, the affidavit of apology was taken into cognizance by the DHC.

However, the SC, in its January 16 order, stated it was dissatisfied with the petitioner’s apology filed on January 15. Proceedings were rescheduled for January 19, 2024, to allow the petitioner another chance for a proper apology, including addressing unfounded allegations. Thereafter, Singh again filed an apology on January 18 which was taken up by the SC on Saturday and his sentence was reduced.

“Criminal contempt” of court, as defined under Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, involves publicly undermining a court’s authority, disrupting judicial proceedings, or obstructing the administration of justice through spoken or written words, signs, visible representations, or other acts.