Overview
- On November 10, a bench led by CJI B R Gavai with Justice K Vinod Chandran ended suo motu contempt proceedings against N. Peddi Raju and advocates Ritesh Patil and Nitin Meshram.
- The court decried a growing pattern of litigants and lawyers launching scurrilous allegations at judges after adverse orders, calling the practice unacceptable.
- Emphasising that lawyers are officers of the court, the bench cautioned counsel to avoid signing pleadings that carry defamatory claims against judges.
- Noting that “the majesty of law does not lie in punishment but in forgiving,” the bench cited recent jurisprudence urging restraint in penalising lawyers for minor errors.
- The proceedings arose from a transfer petition alleging bias against Justice Bhattacharya in a case tied to relief for Telangana chief minister A. Revanth Reddy under the SC/ST Act, with show-cause notices issued July 29 and apologies accepted on August 22.