Scandalous Complaints Against SC Judges: SC Issues Contempt Notice To Nedumpara And 3 Others [Read Order]

The bench took note of a letter sent to the President of India, the Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justice of the High Court of Bombay by the President of the Bombay Bar Association and the President of the Bombay Incorporated law Society, in which they highlighted the frivolous attempt made by the above named lawyers and parties to terrorize and intimidate the judges.

The letter by Advocate Vijay Kurle, on behalf of one 'Indian Bar Association' (to President of India, CJI, Bombay HC CJ) sought permission to prosecute the judges and withdrawal of judicial work from them for having passed a Judgment dated 12th March, 2019 convicting Mr. Mathews Nedumpara for contempt of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. Letter by Rashid Khan Pathan claiming himself to be the National Secretary, Human Rights Security Council, sought similar directions/permissions against the judges for having passed another order in another matter. The Bombay Bar Association also said that the Indian Bar Association is not a recognised Bar Association and that it has 'reasons to believe that it is a a self serving body floated by Advocates Nilesh Ojha and Vijay Kurle. It also highlighted the fact that Ojha had appeared for Nedumpara in many contempt cases.

Taking note of these developments, the bench ordered:

"Given the two complaints filed, it is clear that scandalous allegations have been made against the members of this Bench. We, therefore, issue notice of contempt to (1) Shri Vijay Kurle; (2) Shri Rashid Khan Pathan; (3) Shri Nilesh Ojha and (4) Shri Mathews Nedumpara to explain as to why they should not be punished for criminal contempt of the Supreme Court of India, returnable within two weeks from today."

The bench has also requested the Chief Justice of India to constitute an appropriate Bench to hear and decide this contempt case.

Nedumpara Punishment

The bench, ordered thus, while sentencing Advocate Nedumpara, in the present contempt case

"Given the fact that Shri Nedumpara now undertakes to this Court that he will never again attempt to browbeat any Judge either of this Court or of the 6 Bombay High Court, we sentence Shri Nedumpara to three months imprisonment which is, however, suspended only if Shri Nedumpara continues in future to abide by the undertaking given to us today. In addition, Shri Nedumpara is barred from practicing as an Advocate before the Supreme Court of India for a period of one year from today."

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