Contempt Jurisdiction Extends Even To Protect The Registry From False And Unfair Allegations: SC [Read Judgment]

A three Judge Bench of the Supreme Court of India on Thursday observed that the contempt jurisdiction of the Court is not only to protect the reputation of the concerned Judge so that he can administer Justice fearlessly and fairly, but also to protect “the fair name of the judiciary”. The allegation against the lawyer was that he contended that a great manipulation had occurred in the Registry of Supreme Court in order to favour the opposite party with the objective of “Bench Hunt”. As per the Judgment “The allegation thus is clear and unequivocal – the Registry had colluded with the opposite litigant to hastily list the matter with the aim of bench hunting. “It is the contemnor who utilized the opportunity to re-enter the scene, with the object of assisting the petitioner, in the endeavour of such bench hunting, under the garb of allegations and insinuations, made against the Registry, and for that matter, even the court.