SC pardons advocates for contempt

Ten advocates who abused and threatened to "suck the blood" out of a judge for remanding an accused to police were on Monday let off by the Supreme Court after they tendered an unconditional apology.

Ten advocates who abused and threatened to "suck the blood" out of a judge for remanding an accused to police were on Monday let off by the Supreme Court after they tendered an unconditional apology.

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A bench of justice P Sathasivam and justice B S Chauhan in a judgement cautioned that freedom of expression and speech does not mean license to make unfounded allegations against any institution, much less the judiciary.

The advocates L N Parashar, O P Sharma and eight others were earlier sentenced by the Punjab and Haryana High Court to simple imprisonment ranging from three to six months under under relevant sections of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971

The high court had imposed the sentence despite the contemnor advocates tendering unconditional apology by way of affidavits. Aggrieved, they appealed in the apex court.

The apex court gave a piece of its mind to the advocates.

"It is essential to the rule of law and liberty of the citizens. The advocate or the party appearing in person, therefore, is given liberty of expression. But they equally owe countervailing duty to maintain dignity, decorum and order in the court proceedings or judicial processes.

"Any adverse opinion about the judiciary should only be expressed in a detached manner and respectful language. The liberty of free expression is not to be confounded or confused with licence to make unfounded allegations against any institution, much less the judiciary."