SC Comes Down Heavily On UP Police Officer Who Defied Order Saying “Main Kisi Supreme Court Ka Aadesh Nahi Maanunga”
The officer had arrested a petitioner ignoring the interim protection granted by the Court and assaulted him.
The Supreme Court came down heavily on Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh, Kandhai Police Station's Station House Officer, who refused to comply with the Court's order, and arrested and assaulted a petitioner despite clear judicial directions against coercive action.
Refusing to comply with the Court's order, the SHO in vernacular language said, “Main kisi Supreme Court ka aadesh nahin manunga, mai tumhara sara High Court aur Supreme Court nikal dunga aaj.” (I will not obey the order of any Supreme Court; I will get your entire High Court and Supreme Court removed today.)
A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria heard the contempt petition, where it was complained that, despite the protection order dated March 28, 2025, the petitioner was allegedly dragged from his workplace, arrested, and physically assaulted by the contemnor(SHO) Gulaab Singh Sonkar on April 23, 2025. It was further alleged that even when the petitioner produced a copy of the Supreme Court's order, the SHO abused him in vernacular language, disrespecting the Court's order and refusing to comply with the same.
The Court had earlier directed the UP Home Department to inquire into the matter through an officer not below the rank of ADGP.
Noting that the Government's inquiry report also confirmed the willful disobedience to the Court's order, the Court said that the contemnor-SHO cannot be allowed to pollute the stream of justice under the guise of a police uniform.
“prima facie there is willful disobedience of the Order of the Court by the first respondent which requires to be dealt with iron hands and under the guise of the police uniform,” the Court said.
The Court was inclined to pass a stern order against the SHO, but after being apprised by the Government's counsel that "an immediate action in light of the inquiry report would be taken against the contemnor and sought time to apprise the Court of the developments", the Court, acceding to the Government's request, directed re-listing of the matter on November 7, 2025.
“At this juncture, the learned AAG appearing for respondent no.2/Principal Secretary, Department of Home & Confidential, Government of Uttar Pradesh who was furnished with the Report has perused the same and would submit that in the teeth of the said inquiry report, the State Government would act immediately and apprise this Court of the action taken by next date of hearing. For the said purposes an accommodation is sought for. Re-list this matter on 07.11.2025.”, the court ordered.