SADHVI RITUMBHARA versus DIGVIJA Y SINGH AND ANR.

SADHVI RITUMBHARA versus DIGVIJA Y SINGH AND ANR.

The Assistant Director committed contempt by distorting the judgment of the Supreme Court and misleading the public, but the contempt was not deliberate to undermine the Court; unconditional apology was accepted and the matter closed.

Parties
Petitioner/appellant: Sadhvi Ritumbhara; Respondent: Digvijay Singh and Anr.; Contemnor: M. Gopal Reddy; Contemnor: Mangal Prasad Misra
Jurisdiction
India
Judgment Date
17 February 1997
Procedural Posture
Contempt Petition (cr!) No. 1 of 1997 / Final Disposition
Outcome
Contempt petition disposed; unconditional apologies accepted; matter closed.
Legal Topics
Press Release Distortion, Publication of Misleading Information, Official Duty, Unconditional Apology
Contempt of Court Criminal Law Press Release Distortion Publication of Misleading Information Official Duty Unconditional Apology

Case Brief

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Parties

Sadhvi Ritumbhara

Petitioner/appellant

Digvijay Singh and Anr.

Respondent

M. Gopal Reddy

Contemnor

Mangal Prasad Misra

Contemnor

Procedural Posture

Contempt Petition (cr!) No. 1 of 1997 / Final Disposition

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the issuance of a distorted press release concerning the contents of a Supreme Court judgment constitutes contempt of court.
  2. 2 Whether officials responsible for public information bear duty in ensuring accuracy regarding court orders.

Ratio Decidendi

The Assistant Director committed contempt by distorting the judgment of the Supreme Court and misleading the public, but the contempt was not deliberate to undermine the Court; unconditional apology was accepted and the matter closed.

Court Disposition

Contempt petition disposed; unconditional apologies accepted; matter closed.

Orders

  • The unconditional apologies of M.P. Mishra and M. Gopal Reddy are accepted.
  • The contempt petition is ordered accordingly; matter closed as against the contemnors.