Delhi High Court Acquits Lawyer in Contempt Case, Orders Bar Council to Assess Fitness to Practice

The Delhi High Court has acquitted a lawyer in a criminal contempt case on its own initiative. The court’s order, issued by a division bench led by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, noted that the lawyer was suffering from a mental illness. The court directed the Delhi Bar Council to evaluate whether the lawyer remains fit to continue practicing law.

The bench highlighted that the lawyer had become despondent for reasons known to him, had severely impaired eyesight, and was unable to read or write. It observed that the lawyer was unaware of how to conduct himself and acquitted him based on his medical report.

Justice Manoj Jain, in his order, stated that it would be inappropriate to impose punitive measures for the disrespect the lawyer had shown towards the court. However, the court issued a warning to the lawyer, emphasizing that he must uphold the dignity of the court in all future appearances.