Madhya Pradesh High Court Accepts Man's Unconditional Apology In Contempt Case, Directs Him To Plant 50 Trees Of Indigenous Species

While closing contempt proceedings initiated against a man after he expressed his remorse and submitted an "unconditional apology", the Jabalpur bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday (December 2) directed him to plant 50 trees of indigenous species in Sambalgarh.

A division bench of Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf in its order took note of the man's contention in his affidavit that he is a semi-literate person and has studied only upto Class 10th.

The man had submitted that he does not have formal legal education and had limited knowledge of legal procedure and unfamiliar with the decorum and requirement of Court proceeding. The respondent "expressed" his "regret and remorse at his conduct and furnished unconditional apology and undertakes to be careful in future". The man also volunteered to undertake social service.

The court thereafter said, “Keeping in view of the facts and circumstances of the case and the remorse and apology extended, we accept the apology as well as undertaking given by respondent. However, keeping in view of the conduct we direct that respondent shall plant 50 trees of indigenous species in the area of Sambalgarh, District - Morena. The trees shall be of indigenous nature of atleast height of 4 feet. The trees shall be planted under the direction of Sub Divisional Officer (Forest), Sambalgarh, District Morena. The trees be planted within a period of one month.”

The contempt case was referred by Judicial Magistrate First Class, Sambalgarh, District Morena. A case against the respondent filed by his wife is pending before the Sambalgarh court under Sections 294(Obscene acts and songs), 323(Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 341(Punishment for wrongful restraint) of the Indian Penal Code.

The high court also directed the respondent to report to the Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Sambalgarh, District Morena with a copy of the high court's order within a period of fifteen days for the purposes of complying with the said direction.

“The area where the trees shall be planted would be decided by the Sub Divisional Officer (Forest), Sambalgarh, District Morena.”, the Court said.

Case Title: In Reference Versus Shri Rahul Sahu, Contempt Petition Criminal No. 24 of 2024

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