Contempt: Delhi High Court Issues Show Cause Notice To Lawyer For Interrupting Court Proceedings Despite Warning

The Delhi High Court yesterday issued show cause notice to a lawyer asking as to why contempt proceedings be not initiated against him for continuously interrupting court proceedings despite warning, forcing the judge to pass the order in chamber.

While hearing a fresh application filed in a petition field by a woman against United India Insurance Company, Justice Girish Kathpalia said that the petitioner's counsel was not permitting him to dictate the order in Court and was continuously interrupting.

At the lawyer's request, the Court clarified that the application was not being dismissed, but due to his interruption, Justice Kathpalia dictated the order in chamber.

“Even after this dictation, learned counsel continues to interrupt the proceedings despite being warned that such conduct of interfering in court proceedings is tantamount to contempt. I feel constrained to contemplate appropriate action,” the Court said.

It added: “Therefore, opportunity is granted to learned counsel for petitioner to address on the next date as to why contempt proceedings be not initiated against him. Rest of the order shall be dictated inside the chamber.”

As the Court asked certain queries from the lawyer concerning the case, Justice Kathpalia, in his order passed in chamber, recorded that the counsel “created the scene” to the extent that he had to stop dictation and defer further dictation in the chamber.

“On the above aspects, the counsel for petitioner is granted opportunity to address further arguments on 09.01.2025 as already fixed,” the Court said.

Title: MRS. SHALINI SINGH v. UNITED INDIA INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED AND ORS.

Click here to read order