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Gauhati : The Gauhati High Court on Thursday convicted a lawyer for criminal contempt after he made objectionable remarks against a judicial officer [In Re Utpal Goswami].
A bench of Justices Kalyan Rai Surana and Devashis Baruah directed advocate Utpal Goswami to pay a bond of ₹10,000 for his release on bail, prior to the next date of hearing on March 20 for sentencing.
” … the Court doth has hereby explained the charges to the respondent/contemnor of committing contempt of Court in respect of a judicial officer of subordinate Court. Accordingly, in view of the plea of guilty taken by the respondent/contemnor, we hereby convict the respondent contemnor on his plea of guilty being taken, as per the provision of section 14 of the [Contempt of] Courts Act, 1971.”
Goswami had admitted to saying that an additional district judge at Jorhat had been presiding over court proceedings while wearing jewelry like a model on a ramp.
He had stated that the judge would frequently overpower advocates by citing unnecessary case laws and legal provisions. The lawyer added that the judicial officer in question gave special treatment to her typist, collected eatables from Majuli district through her office assistant and used her official driver and car for personal work.
Pertinently, he had compared her conduct to a bhasmasur, a mythical demonic character mentioned in the puranas and the Mahabharata.
Before the High Court, Goswami had pleaded guilty to the charges in question.
He added that he had come to realise that respect for judges and magistrates of any court should be preserved and protected through peace, order, harmony and tranquility of human society.
He admitted to making the remarks due to an insufficient knowledge of the law and its practice, and then tendered an unconditional apology saying the crime would not be repeated.
Goswami appeared in-person along with Advocate P Sarma.
Senior Advocate Ziaul Kamar was the Amicus Curiae, assisted by Advocate RKD Choudhury.
Standing Counsel TJ Mahanta appeared for the High Court.
