Bombay High Court Issues Contempt Notice to Dilip Ghumare Over Courtroom Outburst
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday issued a contempt notice to Dilip Ghumare, the Secretary and Senior Legal Advisor of the Maharashtra government's department of law and judiciary, following an aggressive and high-pitched outburst against the court administration during a public interest litigation hearing in Mumbai.
A division bench comprising Justice AS Gadkari and Justice Kamal Khata observed that Ghumare displayed an unwarranted outburst and aggressive demeanour deliberately before an open court in full public view. The judges noted that his attempt to justify his stance not only scandalised the court but also undermined and lowered its authority, constituting contempt under the Constitution of India and the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
The incident took place while the bench was hearing an interim application in connection with a 2013 public interest litigation. During the proceedings, the court referred to an earlier order dated August 24 and an affidavit submitted by Ghumare dated August 27, which claimed that 179 new posts had been created for fast track courts.
When the court questioned Additional Government Pleader PP Kakade about the averment, the pleader was unable to provide a clear and unequivocal response. The bench then asked Ghumare to identify the relevant averments and questioned him regarding who had filed the affidavit.
Rather than answering the query, Ghumare responded in an aggressive, high-pitched tone, blaming the high court administration before a packed courtroom. He claimed that the high court administration itself was responsible for not filling up the 179 vacant posts.
The bench stated that Ghumare's intemperate remarks constituted a deliberate and unwarranted assault upon the dignity and authority of the court. The judges described the conduct as manifestly unbecoming of a judicial officer, calling it outrageous and far below the standard expected of someone holding his post. The court highlighted that maintaining courtroom decorum is imperative, especially for a judicial officer.
Although Ghumare tendered an apology before the bench, the judges held that his conduct was wholly unpardonable and could not be countenanced. The bench remarked that his position did not confer any privilege to treat the court with disrespect, warning that accepting a theatrical apology would send a troubling message that an inexcusable act could be committed in open court with impunity.
The bench directed the registrar to issue a notice asking Ghumare why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him, and scheduled the matter for further hearing on September 11. Ghumare refused to comment on the development.
