Supreme Court slams trend of ‘scandalous allegations’ against judges, drops contempt case after apology

The Supreme Court wound up the proceedings and cautioned that, as officers of the court, they should be careful while signing pleas that malign judges.

The SC bench noted that Justice Bhattacharya, by order dated August 22, 2025, had shown “the magnanimity of accepting the apology tendered by the petitioners." (Source: File)

The Supreme Court Monday issued a strong warning against what it described as a “growing trend” of litigants and lawyers making “scurrilous and scandalous allegations against the judge when they fail to get favourable orders”.

The bench of Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing the suo motu contempt proceedings initiated against lawyers associated with a transfer petition, which allegedly raised objectionable remarks against Telangana High Court judge Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya.

“Such a practice has to be strongly deprecated,” CJI Gavai said while presiding over the bench, as it accepted an apology from the lawyers.

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Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, CJI Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran on July 29 issued show cause notices to the petitioner, the Advocate on Record and lawyers who had agreed to file the petition.

The court subsequently asked them to tender an apology to the judge.

On Monday, the SC bench noted that Justice Bhattacharya, by order dated August 22, 2025, had shown “the magnanimity of accepting the apology tendered by the petitioners.” Accordingly, the bench said it was also accepting their apology.

Winding up the proceedings, the bench, however, cautioned that as officers of the court, they should be careful while signing pleas that malign judges.

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“We are also inclined to accept the unconditional apology tendered by the alleged contemnor. However, we may put a note of caution that the lawyers are expected to act as officers of the court, to be careful while subscribing their signatures on the pleadings, which are in the nature of making scandalous and scurrilous allegations against the judges of the Court,” said the bench.

The bench in its order also referred to the top court’s July 23 ruling, which stated that lawyers should not be punished for small mistakes, as this can adversely affect their careers.