Delhi High Court Imposes Imprisonment on 12 Individuals for Hindering Judicial Duties During a 2015 Raid in Kolkata

In a landmark decision, the Delhi High Court found 12 individuals guilty of contempt for obstructing justice during an official visit to Kolkata in January 2015. The court's judgment, spanning 44 pages, emphasised the importance of dealing severely with those who interfere in the administration of justice to maintain respect for and adherence to the law.

The obstruction occurred when court-appointed advocate commissioners were carrying out a raid on shops selling counterfeit Samsung products, as directed by the court in 2014. The individuals assaulted and hindered these commissioners, causing serious injuries to some of them, including police officers.

The court reiterated that interfering with the work assigned to the advocate commissioners amounts to interference in the administration of justice. The individuals had offered an unconditional apology, claiming they were not aware of the orders as they had not been served. However, this did not prevent the court from imposing punishment.

Each of the 12 individuals was sentenced to one day of simple imprisonment along with a fine of ₹2,000 each. Unfortunately, there are no publicly available records listing the names of the convicts sentenced in Kolkata in January 2015.

The amicus curiae, Varun Goswami, stated that the mob aimed to restrain the lawyers and create fear to thwart justice. The court expressed its concern over such acts and emphasised that the punishment was necessary due to the seriousness of the individuals' actions.

The court's decision serves as a reminder that dealing heavily with those who interfere in the administration of justice is imperative to ensure the rule of law prevails. It is hoped that this will deter others from engaging in such behaviour in the future.