A division bench of Chief Justice Sonia Gokani and Justice NV Anjaria said it cannot embolden such elements as their act was serious and affects the justice delivery system.
“In view of the maintenance of independence of judiciary and the faith of public in the justice delivery system, we must not allow the contemnors to escape the punishment by merely tendering an unconditional apology. Thus, we refuse to accept and consider the apologies tendered by the contemnors,” the bench said in its order.
The bench, therefore, ordered the contemnors Vijay Shah and Alpesh Patel, to stand in the courtroom till 5 pm when the court rises and also pay a fine of ₹2,000 along with costs ₹1 lakh each.
“We further impose costs of ₹1 lakh on each of them, to be deposited with the Registry of this Court within a period of one week,” the bench ordered.
A detailed copy of the order is yet to be made available.
Source: Barandbench
