Karnataka HC Drops Criminal Contempt Proceedings Against Advocate For Banging His Hand In Courtroom; Imposes 2 Lakh Cost

The Registrar of the City Civil Court had written to the High Court seeking action against Kumar, whereafter the suo moto proceedings were initiated.

On Tuesday, a division bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Ashok S Kinagi accepted the unconditional apology tendered by Advocate KN Jagadish Kumar subject to him depositing a cost of Rs 2 lakh.

"I sincerely repent for my behaviour that led to incidents that took place between 10.02.2022 to 12.02.2022...I most humbly undertake that, I will maintain a dignified, respectful, responsible and polite behaviour both inside and outside the court and would not say or do anything which would undermine the dignity and prestige of the institution of judiciary," Kumar had said in his apology.

Considering that Kumar "sincerely repents" for his behaviour, the Court accepted his apology and dropped the proceedings initiated against him.

It directed that out of the Rs.2,00,000 costs, Rs.1,00,000 shall be deposited with the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, Rs.50,000, shall be deposited with the Advocates' Association, Bengaluru which shall be utilised for Library purposes and the remaining amount of Rs.50,000, shall be deposited with the Karnataka Advocates' Clerks Benevolent Trust, High Court Building, Bengaluru. The above referred costs shall be deposited within a period of two weeks' from today.

Case Title: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA v. K.N. JAGADISH KUMAR @ JAGADEESH MAHADEV @ JAGADEESH

Case no: CRL.CCC. NO. 1 OF 2022

Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (Kar) 494

Date of Order: 29TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2022

Appearance: KIRAN S. JAVALI, SENIOR ADVOCATE/SPECIAL SPP for complainant; HARISH PRABHU S., ADVOCATE for the accused.