IN RE: N. PEDDI RAJU AND OTHERS versus

IN RE: N. PEDDI RAJU AND OTHERS versus

Because scandalous and scurrilous allegations had been made against the learned Single Judge of the High Court in the Transfer Petition, the Court issued show cause notice, accepted that affidavits of apology had been filed to this Court but held that the appropriate course was to permit the alleged contemnors to tender unconditional apologies before the concerned learned Judge of the High Court; the Registrar General of the High Court was directed to reopen the disposed Criminal Petition only for the limited purpose of allowing the alleged contemnors to tender those apologies within prescribed short timelines, after which the High Court Judge will decide on acceptance and the Supreme...

Parties
Alleged Contemnor; Advocate on Record Who Filed the Transfer Petition: Ritesh Patil; Alleged Contemnor; Counsel Who Drew the Transfer Petition: Nitin Meshram
Jurisdiction
India
Judgment Date
11 August 2025
Procedural Posture
Suo Moto Contempt Petition (civil) No. 3 of 2025 (under Article 32 of the Constitution of India) / Judgment/order on Show Cause Notice; Directions Permitting Tender of Unconditional Apology Before the Learned Single Judge of the High Court and Limited Reopening of the High Court Proceedings; Matter Listed After Four Weeks
Outcome
Show cause notice issued; alleged contemnors permitted to tender unconditional apologies before the learned Single Judge of the High Court; directions issued for limited reopening of High Court proceedings and timelines for tender and decision on apology; matter listed after four weeks.
Legal Topics
Scandalous Allegations Against Judge, Transfer Petition Practice, Apology in Contempt Proceedings, Duties of Counsel, Status and Protection of High Court Judges
Contempt of Court Constitutional Law Judicial Conduct Scandalous Allegations Against Judge Transfer Petition Practice Apology in Contempt Proceedings Duties of Counsel Status and Protection of High Court Judges

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Parties

Ritesh Patil

Alleged Contemnor; Advocate on Record Who Filed the Transfer Petition

Nitin Meshram

Alleged Contemnor; Counsel Who Drew the Transfer Petition

Procedural Posture

Suo Moto Contempt Petition (civil) No. 3 of 2025 (under Article 32 of the Constitution of India) / Judgment/order on Show Cause Notice; Directions Permitting Tender of Unconditional Apology Before the Learned Single Judge of the High Court and Limited Reopening of the High Court Proceedings; Matter Listed After Four Weeks

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether scandalous and scurrilous allegations made in a Transfer Petition against a High Court Judge constitute contempt of court
  2. 2 Whether apologies tendered only to the Supreme Court suffice when allegations are directed at a High Court Judge and whether unconditional apologies should be tendered to the concerned High Court Judge
  3. 3 Whether transfer of proceedings merely because a political figure is involved in a State is a valid ground for transfer

Ratio Decidendi

Because scandalous and scurrilous allegations had been made against the learned Single Judge of the High Court in the Transfer Petition, the Court issued show cause notice, accepted that affidavits of apology had been filed to this Court but held that the appropriate course was to permit the alleged contemnors to tender unconditional apologies before the concerned learned Judge of the High Court; the Registrar General of the High Court was directed to reopen the disposed Criminal Petition only for the limited purpose of allowing the alleged contemnors to tender those apologies within prescribed short timelines, after which the High Court Judge will decide on acceptance and the Supreme...

Court Disposition

Show cause notice issued; alleged contemnors permitted to tender unconditional apologies before the learned Single Judge of the High Court; directions issued for limited reopening of High Court proceedings and timelines for tender and decision on apology; matter listed after four weeks.

Orders

  • Show cause notice had been issued to the alleged contemnors (already done)
  • The alleged contemnors are permitted to tender unconditional apologies before the learned Judge of the High Court who passed the final order in Criminal Petition No. 4162 of 2020