Madras HC sentences Contemnor to 6 months jail for scandalous allegations against Judges [Read Order]

Madras: The High Court of Madras has delivered a significant order sentencing PU Venkatesan to six months of simple imprisonment for making scandalous allegations against sitting judges of the Supreme Court and the Madras High Court.

In an order passed on June 13, 2024, a Division Bench comprising Justices M.S. Ramesh and Sunder Mohan found the contemnor guilty of criminal contempt under Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. This was due to letters he wrote containing unsavory remarks and scandalous allegations against three sitting judges of the Madras High Court and a sitting judge of the Supreme Court.

The court noted that the contemnor was already facing contempt proceedings in another case but had committed further contempt by making scandalous allegations and challenging the court to take contempt action against him. Despite being given opportunities to explain himself, the contemnor not only admitted to writing the letters but also addressed the judges as “criminals” in open court.

Expressing dismay at the contemnor’s behavior, the court referred to National Lawyers’ Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms and Others v. Union of India, holding that “such contemptuous acts on the face of the Court belittle the majesty of the Court, as well as the administration of justice, and demand that such contemptuous behavior of this kind should be dealt with sternly.”

Additionally, referring to the Supreme Court’s decision in Leila David v. State of Maharashtra, the court observed that while a summary procedure can be adopted in suo motu contempt proceedings, the contemnor was given ample opportunities to explain himself and render his submissions on the quantum of the sentence.

However, since the contemnor showed no remorse and instead challenged the court to pass any order, the court held him guilty of criminal contempt and imposed the maximum sentence of six months of simple imprisonment under Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

“We are of the affirmed view that such behavior is not only contemptuous against us but also to the entire justice delivery system. Since the contemnor has not shown any remorse but rather was challenging us to pass any order of our choice, we hold that the letters of the contemnor dated 17.04.2024 and 22.04.2024 scandalize, prejudice, and interfere with the due course of our judicial proceedings, apart from obstructing the administration of justice. Hence, we hold the contemnor guilty of having committed criminal contempt, as defined under Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’) and thus, he is liable to be punished under Section 12 of the Act. Furthermore, when he was questioned regarding the quantum of punishment to be imposed, he called upon us to pass any order against him, and thus, we deem it appropriate to impose the maximum sentence contemplated under Section 12 of the Act,” the court stated.

The court ordered the Inspector of Police, B4, High Court Police Station, Chennai, to arrest and produce the contemnor before the jail authorities of Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai.

In conclusion, the court closed the suo motu contempt petition, emphasizing the need to uphold the dignity and majesty of the courts and the administration of justice.

[Read Order]