Delhi High Court Discharges Two In Contempt Case For Hurling Abuses In Magistrate Court, Says Courtroom Language Must Reflect Propriety

While discharging two men in a criminal contempt case, the Delhi High Court has observed that the language used in a Court of law is not a matter of choice or casualness, but one of unqualified propriety.

“Words that demean, insult or scandalize the Court have repercussions not merely for the dignity of the institution, but for the administration of justice itself,” a division bench comprising Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Shalinder Kaur observed.

It was alleged that the two men, with their words and conduct in open court, lowered the authority of the court and obstructed the administration of justice.

A reference was addressed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class to the Registrar General of the High Court, through the Principal District and Sessions Judge, for initiation of proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act.

It was alleged that during the sentencing hearing, one of the respondents commenced hurling abusive words in open court when the JMFC began dictating the order. Further, it was alleged that another respondent loudly shouted, coupled with further abuse directed at both the court and the complainant.

In its order, the trial court recorded that one of the respondents proceeded to use his mobile phone during the proceedings and was cautioned against doing so in future.

Before the High Court, the complainant said that there was a consistent pattern of derogatory conduct by the respondents across multiple litigations between the parties, which attracted warnings from courts on earlier occasions.

The respondents tendered their apology with folded hands, owning their lapse, and expressing genuine remorse for the incident in the court of the JMFC.

They said that they had no intention to demean the dignity or authority of any court, and that they would maintain decorum in all future appearance before any Court.

The Court discharged the respondents accepting their affidavits tendering an unconditional apology, their repeated undertakings stating that they will maintain the respect and decorum in the Court in future and keeping in view their old age.

“The respondents have been expressly warned in open Court that while they are being let off on this occasion in view of their apology and mitigating circumstances, any repetition of such conduct, in any Court, will invite the sternest action permissible in law,” the Court said.

Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION v. DEVENDER GUPTA AND ANR.

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 987

Click here to read order