REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 555 OF 2010
Bal Kishan Giri Appellant
Versus
State of U.P. Respondent
J U D G M E N T
Dr. B.S. Chauhan,J.
1. In this appeal, impugned udgment and order dated !."."#1#
passed $% the &igh 'ourt of (udi)ature at Allaha$ad in 'ontempt
Appli)ation *'rl.+ ,o. 1! of "##-, $% .hi)h the appellant stood
)on/i)ted for )ommitting )riminal )ontempt under the pro/isions of
'ontempt of 'ourts A)t, 1-01 *hereinafter referred to as the 1A)t2+
and senten)ed to undergo simple imprisonment for one month and to
pa% a fine of Rs."#,###34 and in default to undergo simple
imprisonment for t.o .ee5s, has $een assailed.
". 6a)ts and )ir)umstan)es gi/ing rise to this appeal are that7
A. An 6IR .as lodged in P.S. Baleni, 8istri)t Baghpat on
"9.!."##: $% Anil Kumar, appellant in )onne)ted 'riminal Appeal
,o. ;:; of "#1# alleging that his %ounger $rother Sunil Kumar
along.ith Puneet Kumar Giri, .ho .ere residing in Sitaram &ostel of
the <eerut 'ollege, .ere not tra)ea$le and .ent missing the pre/ious
e/ening. Another inmate of the same hostel Sudhir Kumar .as also
reported untra)ea$le. =he /er% ne>t da%, three dead $odies of the said
missing persons .ere found on the $an5s of ri/er &indon. A )riminal
)ase .as therefore registered.
B. 8uring in/estigation, it )ame to the noti)e of the poli)e
authorities that the pla)e of o))urren)e fell .ithin the territorial
urisdi)tion of P.S. Kot.ali, <eerut, and thus in/estigation on $eing
transferred to P.S. Kot.ali, <eerut, the )ase .as registered as 'ase
'rime ,o.1-#3"##:.
'. 8uring in/estigation, man% a))used persons in)luding one &ai
I?lal .ere arrested. =he% mo/ed $ail appli)ations $efore the <eerut
8istt. 'ourt .hi)h stood ree)ted. Aggrie/ed, all the a))used persons
filed $ail appli)ations $efore the &igh 'ourt of Allaha$ad. It .as on
1@.:."##- during the penden)% of the said appli)ations that the
"
appellant su$mitted an appli)ation to the &on2$le 'hief (usti)e of
Allaha$ad &igh 'ourt alleging that the a))used therein .ere gangsters
and had a))umulated assets .orth )rores of rupees $% their )riminal
a)ti/ities. =he a))used persons .ere )losel% related to a lo)al <.A.A.
and B>. <.P. and the% had lin5s .ith the (udges of the &igh 'ourt
in)luding <r. (usti)e S.K. (ain .ho had earlier ser/ed as a udi)ial
offi)er in <eerut 'ourt. =he appellant e>pressed his apprehension that
<r. (usti)e S.K. (ain .ould fa/our the a))used persons to get $ail. A
)op% of the said )omplaint .as also sent to the 'hairman, Bar 'oun)il
of U.P.
8. =he &igh 'ourt e>amined the )omplaint and pla)ed the matter
on the udi)ial side on 1".11."##-. =he )ourt issued a sho. )ause
noti)e dated 1@.:."##- to the appellant as to .h% the )riminal
)ontempt pro)eedings $e not initiated against him under the
pro/isions of the A)t.
B. =he appellant su$mitted an un)onditional apolog% dated
"1.11."##- su$mitting that the appli)ation .as sent $% him as he had
$een misguided $% the ad/o)ates of 8istri)t <eerut and he .as in
great mental tension as his nephe. had $een murdered.
9
6. =he &igh 'ourt after )ompleting the trial )on/i)ted the
appellant /ide impugned udgment and order dated !."."#1# and
a.arded the senten)e as referred to hereina$o/e.
&en)e, this appeal.
9. <r. (.<. Sharma, learned senior )ounsel appearing for the
appellant has su$mitted that the sho. )ause noti)e .as not in
)onsonan)e .ith the pro/isions of 'hapter CCCV4B, Rule ; of the
Allaha$ad &igh 'ourt Rules, 1-!" *hereinafter referred to as the
Rules+. =hus, all su$seDuent pro)eedings stood /itiated. <ore so, the
appellant is a pra)ti)ing ad/o)ate and had .ritten the said )omplaint
under a mental tension as his nephe. had $een murdered, and on
$eing misguided $% the ad/o)ates of the <eerut 'ourt. En)e the
appellant has tendered an a$solute and un)onditional apolog%,
punishment .as not .arranted and fine imposed therein is )ontrar% to
the statutor% pro/isions of the A)t. =hus, the appeal deser/es to $e
allo.ed.
@. Per )ontra, <r. Irshad Ahmad, learned )ounsel appearing for the
State has opposed the appeal )ontending that /er% .ild and
s)andalous allegations had $een made $% the appellant not onl%
@
against one udge $ut against /arious udi)ial offi)ers and merel%
tendering an apolog% is not enough. As the appellant had a))epted that
he had .ritten the letter and also o.ned its )ontents, and filed the
repl% to the sho. )ause noti)e issued to him, e/en if, the statutor%
rules ha/e not $een )omplied .ith, the order .ould not stand /itiated.
=he appeal la)5s merit and is lia$le to $e dismissed.
!. Fe ha/e )onsidered the ri/al su$missions made $% learned
)ounsel for the parties and perused the re)ord.
;. =he rele/ant part of the )omplaint filed $% the appellant reads
as under7
G@. =hat A5hala5h famil% ha/e good )onne)tion .ith
all udges posted at <eerut. &on. <r. (usti)e S.'. ,igam
.as posted in <eerut in the %ear 1-:1 to 1-:@ and
"##"4#9 on the posts of Addl. 'i/il (udge3A.'.(.<. and
Addl. 8istri)t H Sessions (udge respe)ti/el%. &on.
(usti)e <r. S.K. (ain .as also posted at <eerut as
Additional 8istri)t H Sessions (udge in "##"4#9.
!. =hat all the &on. (usti)es V.K. Verma, S.K. (ain
and S.'. ,igam ha/e $een promoted as &igh 'ourt
(udges from the )adre of 8istri)t (udges. &on. (usti)e
<r. S.K. (ain and &on. (usti)e S.'. ,igam remained
posted in 'i/il 'ourt <eerut as Additional 8istri)t (udge
together in the %ear "##"4#9 and ha/e $een promoted
from <eerut (udgeship to the )adre of 8istri)t (udge.
=he% are /er% good friends. &on. <r. (usti)e V.K. Verma
also has /er% good intima)% .ith them. =he% ha/e made
a )au)us .ith V.P. Sri/asta/a, Senior Ad/o)ate of
!
Allaha$ad &igh 'ourt for granting maor $ails to 5no.n
a))used in )riminal )ases illegall% and .ith ulterior
moti/es.
&on. (usti)e V.K. Verma has granted $ails to t.o
a))used namel% Ri?.an and Fassim in aforesaid famous
triple murder )ase of <eerut in $ail appli)ation ,o.-"@
of "##- and 1"9: of "##- on 10.0."##- illegall% and .ith
ulterior moti/es.I
0. =he appellant3)omplainant further e>pressed his apprehension
of ha/ing no )onfiden)e and faith in an% of the three (udges of the
Allaha$ad &igh 'ourt as the% )ould pass an% order at the $ehest of
Shri V.P. Sri/asta/a, Senior Ad/o)ate.
In sum and su$stan)e, the offending part of the allegation had
$een as under7
*1+ A5hlaD had good relations .ith <r. (usti)e S.'.
,igam from the date sin)e he .as posted at <eerut on
three terms, *"+ that usti)e V.K. Verma had good
intima)% .ith the famil% of the a))used and the a))used
ha/e made a )liDue along.ith one V.P. Sri/asta/a, Senior
Ad/o)ate of Allaha$ad &igh 'ourt for pro)uring maor
$ails illegall% and .ith ulterior moti/es. <r. (usti)e V.K.
Verma has admitted $ail to t.o a))used namel% Ri?.an
and Fasim illegall% and .ith ulterior moti/es. =he three
(udges *V.K. Verma, S.K. (ain and S.'. ,igam+ ma% pass
an% order at the $ehest of V.P. Sri/asta/a, Senior
Ad/o)ate.
:. =he allegations made $% the appellant against the 9 udges of
the &igh 'ourt are too serious, s)andalous and, admittedl%, suffi)ient to
;
undermine the maest% of la. and dignit% of )ourt and that is too
.ithout an% $asis. =he appellant is a pra)ti)ing ad/o)ate. Plea ta5en
$% him that he had $een misguided $% other ad/o)ates is an
afterthought. &e must ha/e $een full% a.are of the )onseDuen)es of
.hat he has .ritten. =he a/erment to the effe)t that pro/isions of
'hapter CCCV4B of the Rules had not $een stri)tl% o$ser/ed remains
insignifi)ant as the appellant had not onl% admitted trans)ri$ing the
)omplaint $ut also its )ontents. =he appellant had su$mitted the repl%
to the sho. )ause noti)e issued $% the &igh 'ourt of Allaha$ad on the
udi)ial side. In su)h a fa)t4situation, e/en if, for the sa5e of argument
it is a))epted that the aforesaid Rules ha/e not $een )omplied .ith
stri)tl%, .e are not .illing to a))ept the )ase of the appellant for the
reason that <r. (.<. Sharma, learned senior )ounsel for the appellant
)ould not sho. as to .hat .as that material .hi)h .as not )onsidered
$% the &igh 'ourt that had $een put up as a defen)e $% the appellant
resulting in an% mis)arriage of usti)e.
-. =his 'ourt in M.B. Sanh!, A"#$%a&' #. H!h C$ur& $(
Pun)a* an" Har+ana , Or-., AIR 1--1 S' 1:9@, .hile e>amining a
similar )ase o$ser/ed 7
0
The foundation of judicial system which is based
on the independence and impartiality of those who man it
will be shaken if disparaging and derogatory remarks
are made against the presiding judicial officers with
impunity. It is high time that we realise that the much
cherished judicial independence has to be protected not
only from the executive or the legislature but also from
those who are an integral part of the system. An
independent judiciary is of vital importance to any free
society.
1#. In A-hara. M. Ja!n #. A.T. Gu/&a , Or-. AIR 1-:9 S'
11!1, .hile dealing .ith the issue, this 'ourt o$ser/ed as under7
The strains and mortification of litigation cannot be
allowed to lead litigants to tarnish terrorise and destroy
the system of administration of justice by vilification of
judges. It is not that judges need be protected! judges
may well take care of themselves. It is the right and
interest of the public in the due administration of justice
that has to be protected.
11. In J'nn!-$n #. Ba0'r J1-0"K 1 All B.R. --0, 1##;, it .as
o$ser/ed, GJ=Khe la. should not $e seen to sit $% limpl%, .hile those
.ho def% it go free, and those .ho see5 its prote)tion lose hopeI
1". =he appellant has tendered an a$solute and un)onditional
apolog% .hi)h has not $een a))epted $% the &igh 'ourt. =he apolog%
means a regretful a)5no.ledge or e>)use for failure. An e>planation
offered to a person affe)ted $% one2s a)tion that no offen)e .as
:
intended, )oupled .ith the e>pression of regret for an% that ma% ha/e
$een gi/en. Apolog% should $e unDuestiona$le in sin)erit%. It should
$e tempered .ith a sense of genuine remorse and repentan)e, and not a
)al)ulated strateg% to a/oid punishment
19. 'lause 1 of Se)tion 1" of the A)t and B>planation atta)hed
thereto ena$les the )ourt to remit the punishment a.arded for
)ommitting the )ontempt of )ourt on apolog% $eing made to the
satisfa)tion of the )ourt. &o.e/er, an apolog% should not $e ree)ted
merel% on the ground that it is Dualified or tempered at a $elated stage
if the a))used ma5es it *$na (!"'. A )ondu)t .hi)h a$uses and ma5es
a mo)5er% of the udi)ial pro)ess of the )ourt is to $e dealt .ith iron
hands and no person )an tin5er .ith it to pre/ent, preudi)e, o$stru)ted
or interfere .ith the administration of usti)e. =here )an $e )ases .here
the .isdom of rendering an apolog% da.ns onl% at a later stage.
Undou$tedl%, an apolog% )annot $e a defen)e, a ustifi)ation, or an
appropriate punishment for an a)t .hi)h tantamounts to )ontempt of
)ourt. An apolog% )an $e a))epted in )ase .here the )ondu)t for .hi)h
the apolog% is gi/en is su)h that it )an $e Gignored .ithout
)ompromising the dignit% of the )ourtI, or it is intended to $e the
e/iden)e of real )ontrition. It should $e sin)ere. Apolog% )annot $e
-
a))epted in )ase it is hollo.L there is no remorseL no regretL no
repentan)e, or if it is onl% a de/i)e to es)ape the rigour of the la.. Su)h
an apolog% )an merel% $e termed as Gpaper apolog%I.
1@. In L.D. Ja!01a2 #. S&a&' $( U.P., AIR 1-:@ S' 190@, this )ourt
noted that it )annot su$s)ri$e to the Mslap4sa% sorr%4 and forgetM
s)hool of thought in administration of )ontempt urispruden)e.
Sa%ing Msorr%M does not ma5e the slapper poorer.
*See also7 T.N. G$"a#ar.an Th!ru.u2/a" #. A-h$0 3h$& , Anr.,
AIR "##; S' "##0+

So an apolog% should not $e Gpaper apolog%I and e>pression of
sorro. should )ome from the heart and not from the penL for it is one
thing to Msa%M sorr%, it is another to MfeelM sorr%.
1!. An apolog% for )riminal )ontempt of )ourt must $e offered at
the earliest sin)e a $elated apolog% hardl% sho.s the G)ontrition .hi)h
is the essen)e of the purging of )ontemptI. Ef )ourse, an apolog% must
$e offered and that too )learl% and at the earliest opportunit%. &o.e/er,
e/en if the apolog% is not $elated $ut the )ourt finds it to $e .ithout
real )ontrition and remorse, and finds that it .as merel% tendered as a
1#
.eapon of defen)e, the 'ourt ma% refuse to a))ept it. If the apolog% is
offered at the time .hen the )ontemnor finds that the )ourt is going to
impose punishment, it )eases to $e an apolog% and $e)omes an a)t of a
)ringing )o.ard. *Vide7 D'*a*ra&a Ban"$/a"h+a+ , Or-. #. Th'
S&a&' $( 4'-& B'na2 , Anr., AIR 1-;- S' 1:-L Mu20h Ra) #. Th'
S&a&' $( Pun)a*, AIR 1-0" S' 11-05 Th' S'%r'&ar+, Ha!2a0an"! Bar
A--$%!a&!$n #. S&a&' $( A--a. , Anr., AIR 1--; S' 1-"!5 C.
E2u.a2a! , Or-. #. A.G.L. Iru"a+ara) , Anr., AIR "##- S' ""1@L
and Ran#''r 6a"a# #. S&a&' $( B!har, *"#1#+ 11 S'' @-9+.
1;. =his 'ourt has )learl% laid do.n that an apolog% tendered is not
to $e a))epted as a matter of )ourse and the 'ourt is not $ound to
a))ept the same. =he )ourt is )ompetent to ree)t the apolog% and
impose the punishment re)ording reasons for the same. =he use of
insulting language does not a$sol/e the )ontemnor on an% )ount
.hatsoe/er. If the .ords are )al)ulated and )learl% intended to )ause
an% insult, an apolog%, if tendered and la)5 peniten)e, regret or
)ontrition, does not deser/e to $e a))epted. *Vide7 Shr! Bara"a0an&a
M!-hra #. R'!-&rar $( Or!--a H!h C$ur& , Anr., AIR 1-0@ S'
01#L Th' Bar C$un%!2 $( Mahara-h&ra #. M.7. Da*h$20ar '&%., AIR
1-0; S' "@"L A-hara. M. Ja!n #. A.T. Gu/&a , Or-., AIR 1-:9 S'
11
11!1L M$h". 8ah!r 3han #. 7!)a! S!nh , Or-., AIR 1--" S' ;@"L
In R'9 San)!# Da&&a, *1--!+ 9 S'' ;1-L Pa&'2 Ra)n!0an& Dhu2a*ha!
, Or-. #. Pa&'2 Chan"ra0an& Dhu2a*ha! , Or-., AIR "##: S' 9#1;L
and 7!-hra. S!nh Rahu*an-h! #. S&a&' $( U.P., AIR "#11 S'
""0!+.
10. =hat the po.er to punish for )ontempt is a rare spe)ies of
udi)ial po.er .hi)h is $% the /er% nature )alls for e>er)ise .ith great
)are and )aution. Su)h po.er ought to $e e>er)ised onl% .here
Gsilen)e is no longer an option.I
*See7 In re7 S. Mu2a$0ar AIR 1-0: S' 0"0L H.G. Ranan$u" #.
M:- S&a&' Tra"!n C$r/$ra&!$n $( In"!a L&". , Or-., AIR "#1" S'
@-#L Man!n"'r)!& S!nh B!&&a#. Un!$n $( In"!a , Or-., *"#1"+ 1 S''
"09L T.C. Gu/&a , Anr. #. Har! O. Pra0a-h , Or-., *"#19+ 1# S''
;!:L and Arun 3u.ar 6a"a# #. S&a&' $( U.P. through 8istri)t (udge,
*"#19+ 1@ S'' 1"0+
Po.er of )ourts to punish for )ontempt is to se)ure pu$li) respe)t
and )onfiden)e in udi)ial pro)ess. =hus, it is a ne)essar% in)ident to
e/er% )ourt of usti)e.
1"
1:. Being a mem$er of the Bar, it .as his dut% not to demean and
disgra)e the maest% of usti)e dispensed $% a )ourt of la.. It is a )ase
.here insinuation of $ias and predetermined mind has $een le/eled $% a
pra)ti)ing la.%er against three udges of the &igh 'ourt. Su)h )asting
of $ald, o$liDue, unsu$stantiated aspersions against the udges of &igh
'ourt not onl% )auses agon% and anguish to the udges )on)erned $ut
also sha5es the )onfiden)e of the pu$li) in the udi)iar% in its fun)tion
of dispensation of usti)e. =he udi)ial pro)ess is $ased on pro$it%,
fairness and impartialit% .hi)h is unimpea)ha$le. Su)h an a)t
espe)iall% $% mem$ers of Bar .ho are another )og in the .heel of
usti)e is highl% reprehensi$le and deepl% regretted. A$sen)e of
moti/ation is no e>)use.
1-. In /ie. of the a$o/e, .e are of the )onsidered opinion that the
&igh 'ourt has not )ommitted an% error in not a))epting the appellant2s
apolog% sin)e the same is not $ona fide. =here might ha/e $een an inner
impulse of out$urst as the appellant alleges that his nephe. had $een
murdered, $ut that is no e>)use for a pra)ti)ing la.%er to raise fingers
against the )ourt.
19
"#. Se)tion 1"*1+ of the A)t pro/ides that if the )ourt is satisfied
that )ontempt of )ourt has $een )ommitted, it ma% punish the
)ontemnor .ith simple imprisonment for a term .hi)h ma% e>tend to
si> months, or .ith fine .hi)h ma% e>tend to Rs.",###34, or .ith $oth.
Se)tion 1"*"+ further pro/ides that Gnot.ithstanding an%thing
)ontained in an% other la. for the time $eing in for)e, no )ourt shall
impose a senten)e in e>)ess of that spe)ified in su$4se)tion *1+ for an%
)ontempt either in respe)t of itself or of a )ourt su$ordinate to it.I
=hus, the po.er to punish for )ontempt of the )ourt is
su$e)t to limitations pres)ri$ed in su$4se)tion *"+ of the A)t.
"1. &en)e, in /ie. of the a$o/e, the fine of Rs."#,###34 imposed on
the appellant $% the &igh 'ourt $% .a% of impugned udgment and
order, is redu)ed to Rs.",###34 and is dire)ted to deposit the said fine
forth.ith.
"". Fe find no for)e in the appeal .hi)h is a))ordingl% dismissed.
=he appellant must surrender to ser/e out the senten)e forth.ith,
failing .hi)h, the learned 'hief (udi)ial <agistrate, <eerut, .ould
se)ure his )ustod% and send him to ail to ser/e out the senten)e. A
1@
)op% of the order $e sent to the learned 'hief (udi)ial <agistrate,
<eerut, for information and )omplian)e.
....;;.;;;;;;;;..J.
<Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN=
....;;;;;;;;;;;J.
<A.3. SI3RI=
N'1 D'2h!,
Ma+ 2>, 201?
1!
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. @>@ OF 2010
Anil Kumar Appellant
Versus
State of U.P. Respondent
J U D G M E N T
Dr. B.S. Chauhan,J.
In /ie. of the udgment passed toda% in )onne)ted 'riminal Appeal ,o.
!!! of "#1#, this appeal is dismissed. &o.e/er, the fine of Rs."#,###34 imposed
on the appellant $% the &igh 'ourt $% .a% of impugned udgment and order, is
redu)ed to Rs.",###34 and is dire)ted to deposit the said fine forth.ith.
=he appellant must surrender to ser/e out the senten)e forth.ith, failing
.hi)h, the learned 'hief (udi)ial <agistrate, <eerut, .ould se)ure his )ustod%
and send him to ail to ser/e out the senten)e. A )op% of the order $e sent to the
learned 'hief (udi)ial <agistrate, <eerut, for information and )omplian)e.

....;;.;;;;;;;;..J.
<Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN=
.....;;;;;;;;;;;J.
<A.3. SI3RI=
N'1 D'2h!,
Ma+ 2>, 201?