Our Dignity Doesn't Come From What People Say, It Comes From Duties We Discharge: Delhi High Court

Discharging filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri in a contempt case on Monday, the Delhi High Court said the dignity of courts does not come from what people have to say about the judiciary but from the duties the courts discharge.  

"Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi in a contempt rendered a decision... courts do not punish for contempt to secure their dignity. Our dignity doesn't come from what people have to say. Our dignity comes from the work, the duties we discharge," Justice Siddharth Mridul observed during the hearing of the contempt case today.

Agnihotri was present before the bench of Justice Mridul and Justice Vikas Mahajan and reiterated his remorse. He also said he has the utmost respect for the institution of judiciary and did not intend to wilfully offend the majesty of the court.

The court said the matter was kept pending only to make it clear that statements can't made irresponsibly. The case is not adversarial, it added.

"In fact the classic case is where somebody commented about the House of Lords that they are 'old idiots' to which Lord Templeman very famously said that insofar as the first expression is concerned I cannot deny that I am old; in so far as the expression fool is concerned, I will disagree with you but it does not amount to contempt. Surely, our dignity is founded on stronger foundations. Our dignity is not because somebody says something," said Justice Mridul.

The judge also observed that:

"Lawyers say something about us every time they leave the courtroom. If we were to start prosecuting you for that, there will never be any end to it."

ALSO READ: Delhi High Court Discharges Vivek Agnihotri In Contempt Case After 'Unconditional Apology', Ask Him To Be Careful In Future