Delhi HC Charges Sydney-based Indian Lady With Contempt for Abusive Comments Against Judge
An Australian lady who participated in hearings before the Delhi high court over video conferencing has been served a notice for contempt of court for her disparaging comments about the judge. It is unclear if she was aware that her statements could be heard by everyone, not realising she was unmuted.
Anita Kumari Gupta, the plaintiff in this case, is required by the high court to personally appear before the court on April 16, the date of the next hearing.
To ensure that she would not leave the nation without a court order, judge Neena Bansal Krishna had her passport seized by the immigration office upon her arrival on January 10.
The event occurred on January 10, when Gupta's civil lawsuit was brought to light, as stated in the ruling. Both parties' solicitors had already decided to set April 16 as the date to list the matter for final arguments.
“After the date was given and item No. 11 (the next case) was taken, the plaintiff/Anita Kumari Gupta, who had joined through video conferencing, abused the Court by saying that “How Could Item No. 11 Be Taken Before Item No. 10”. She continued by berating and insulting the judge.
“Such derogatory remarks made by the plaintiff to denigrate the Court are patently contemptuous and show the complete disregard to the dignity of the Court, despite the fact that the counsels representing respective parties were present and had agreed to the date given i.e., 16.04.2024 for final arguments. Keeping in view such derogatory remarks lowering the dignity of the Court, the Suo Moto Contempt is taken,” Justice Krishna said in the order.
“Keeping in view such derogatory remarks lowering the dignity of the Court, the Suo Moto Contempt is taken.”
The Latin phrase "suo moto" literally translates to "on its own motion." The word is often used in legal contexts to denote when an authority, such as a court, acts without being asked or persuaded to do so by a third party.
Gupta, who is supposedly residing in Sydney, was served with a show cause notice by the Court. She was further ordered to make an appearance in person on the next day in April. The judge also directed the Indian high commission in Canberra to convey the court order to the plaintiff via the consulate general in Sydney.