Woman abuses Judge in Delhi High Court, Now Court has ordered contempt action against her

The Delhi High Court has taken suo motu contempt action against an Indian woman residing in Australia for using “derogatory” language against a judge during a virtual court session. The court found her remarks to be blatantly contemptuous, displaying a complete disregard for the dignity of the court.

Incident Details

On January 10, while participating in a virtual conferencing session, Anita Kumari Gupta, a complainant in a case, directed abusive language towards the judge and the court. This occurred after the date for the hearing, April 16, had been assigned and item no. 11 was taken.

The court noted that the plaintiff, Anita Kumari Gupta, who had joined through video conferencing, abused the court and said, “How could item No. 11 be taken before item No. 10?” She then went on to abuse the judge: “Yeh s**** kya kar rahi hai? What the f*** is going on in this court?”

Court’s Response

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna initiated the contempt proceedings, citing the derogatory remarks as an affront to the court’s dignity. Despite the presence of counsels representing the parties and their agreement to the scheduled date, the court deemed Gupta’s comments contemptuous.

Legal Action and Show Cause Notice

The court issued a show cause notice to Anita Kumari Gupta, directing her to appear in person on April 16. Additionally, the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) was ordered to impound her passport or visa upon her arrival in India before the scheduled hearing date. The woman’s counsel agreed to convey the court order to her.

Communication and Outreach

The High Court mandated the High Commission of India at Canberra to communicate the contempt proceedings to the woman through the Consulate General of India in Sydney.

Legal Consequences

The Contempt of Court Act of 1971 provides for potential imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of ₹2,000, or both, for those found guilty of contempt. The court’s action is aimed at upholding the sanctity and dignity of the judicial process.