Supreme Court Castigates Lawyer For Threatening Suicide If Adverse Order Was Passed, Seeks Written Apology

The Supreme Court on Monday(March 3)  warned a lawyer for threatening to commit suicide during a hearing on his petition seeking to quash a criminal complaint against him filed by another lawyer.

A bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan expressed shock at the lawyer's conduct and recorded its disapproval of the lawyer's conduct, stating,

“Today in the morning when the petition was called out, the first petitioner who is member of the Bar appeared through VC and stated that while quashing the offence against him, if the court quashes the FIR registered by him against the second respondent, he will commit suicide. We are shocked to record such conduct on part of member of the Bar.”

The bench asked the petitioner to submit a written apology along with an undertaking not to repeat such conduct in the future.

“Now in the afternoon, the first petitioner appears and apologizes. However, we expect the first petitioner to tender written apology and undertaking not to repeat such submissions. We are not forcing the first petitioner to tender apology in writing and give assurance as stated above, but we make it clear that on his failure to do so necessary consequences in terms of law will follow”, the Court stated.

The case stems from a dispute between two lawyers in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu. The petitioner, who appeared before the Supreme Court via video conference, had filed a complaint against another lawyer, the president of a local bar association, alleging that he was abused and assaulted on December 18, 2017.

Based on the petitioner's complaint, an FIR was registered against the second lawyer (respondent), and a charge sheet was later filed. However, the respondent also lodged a complaint against the petitioner, leading to the registration of a counter-case.

The police closed this case as a “mistake of fact,” but the respondent filed a protest petition, after which the Judicial Magistrate took cognizance of the complaint against the petitioner under Sections 294(b), 323, and 506(i) of the IPC. The Madras High Court dismissed the petitioner's plea for quashing of the case against him, leading him to approach the Supreme Court challenging the HC order.

On October 21, 2024, the Court had suggested an amicable settlement between the two lawyers. However, on January 27, 2025, the petitioner's counsel declined to withdraw his case, despite the respondent's willingness to apologize. The court had then advised the petitioner to reconsider his stance.

During the hearing on Monday, Justice Oka noted that the respondent had already tendered an apology to the petitioner, the Court, the Bar Council, and the Bar Association. However, the petitioner declared, “I will commit suicide, my lord.”

Justice Oka questioned whether the petitioner was implying that he would take such an extreme step if both complaints, i.e., complaint against him as well as complaint filed by him, were quashed.

Justice Oka sternly warned the petitioner, stating, “We are warning you. We will order registration of FIR against you if you threaten the court. We will not tolerate such conduct by a member of the Bar. Two things we will order one is registration of FIR. And secondly this will amount to misconduct. We will ask the Bar Council to initiate proceedings against him and suspend his registration.”

The court passed over the matter, asking the petitioner's counsel to speak with him. “Please tell him that such threats will result in an FIR. And please tell him that we don't get impressed with such threats,” Justice Oka remarked.

When the matter was recalled, the petitioner rejoined the virtual proceedings and apologized. “My lords, I sincerely apologize. I was emotional,” he said. Justice Oka responded, “Is this how you represent your clients in court? Submit a written apology. After that, we will dispose of the case.”

The Court kept the matter next Friday to consider the petitioner's apology.