High Court imposes cost of Rs 20,000 on lawyer for vilifying judiciary
| Date :04-Apr-2019 |
Staff Reporter:
Raps the contemnor for making baseless allegations against sitting judge
Taking a very serious view of scandalous allegations hurled against a senior judge of the High Court and senior Registry officials, Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Wednesday slapped a cost of Rs 20,000 on a lawyer Adv Arvind Waghmare who is facing criminal contempt proceedings and described the contempt proceedings as “fradulent proceedings,” in his application. A division bench consisting of Justice Z A Haq and Justice Vinay Joshi expressed deep anguish over such reckless allegations aimed at vilifying the judiciary often made by disgruntled litigants and many cantankerous lawyers and rapped Adv Waghmare for describing the judicial proceedings as fradulent. Adv Waghmare asked the High Court to refer the matter to larger bench since he has accused senior judge and registry officials of misconduct.
The High Court slammed him for filing such applications and found no substance in his demand to refer the matter to Chief Justice so that it can be referred to larger bench. Looking at the tone of tenor of the application, the High Court observed that respondents have aggravated the contempt by leveling baseless and unfounded allegations against a sitting High Court Judge.
“The contents of the Pursis and Applications show that the respondents are unnecessarily slinging mud on the Registry and Officers of the Registry of this Court” the High Court noted while issuing another contempt notice made returnable on April 18. The High Court further noted that on March 20 and even on April 3 the respondent-lawyer constantly obstructed the Court to proceed in the matter and is not maintaining decorum and even when the order was dictated, he constantly interfered.
The High Court issued a warning to him not to repeat such behaviour in future. During last hearing on March 20, the High Court had detained Adv Waghmare for misbehaviour with the judges which amounted to contempt on the face of the court. The matter was heard thrice in one day and after day-long courtroom battle, the lawyer was allowed to go after furnishing an unconditional apology. The High Court had initiated contempt proceedings against Waghmare and three others in which he had sought video-recording of entire proceeding. The High Court had directed him to deposit a sum of Rs one lakh on February 28 and accordingly, the proceedings are videographed. Adv Rajnish Vyas (Amicus Curiae), Senior Advocate Anand Jaiswal and Adv Firdos Mirza (HC administration) appeared in the matter.