The Delhi High Court recently accepted the apology of an engineer, Brijesh Shukla, who had made derogatory remarks against the judiciary. The division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Shalinder Kaur considered the context of Shukla’s actions, acknowledging that his allegations against a judicial officer and the judiciary were likely a result of frustration and depression.
The contempt proceedings against Shukla began in 2019 following an email complaint he sent to the Vigilance Committee for judicial officers. In this complaint, Shukla accused a judicial officer of misusing power and included abusive language against the judge. He also claimed that the judiciary was involved in corrupt practices and money laundering.
Shukla, a graduate in Mechanical Engineering, explained to the court that his distress stemmed from professional and financial setbacks. He had worked in Fiji but did not receive his due payment, leading to a legal dispute with Angelique International Ltd regarding his payment from the Fiji government. Shukla expressed that he had suffered from depression due to these losses spanning from 2012 to 2022.
The court appointed an amicus curiae, Advocate Dhruv Madan, to defend Shukla. After discussions, Shukla sought to offer an unconditional apology, clarifying that he had not engaged any counsel previously and was unaware that his allegations could lead to contempt of court proceedings.
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Acknowledging his remorse and the apology tendered, the Delhi High Court decided to discharge Shukla from the contempt proceedings. The court’s order highlighted Shukla’s commitment to being more cautious in the future, stating,
“He tenders an unconditional apology for making such comment and remorse to this effect and undertakes before this Court that he shall be careful in future.”
This case underscores the importance of understanding the context behind actions and the impact of personal hardships on individuals’ behavior, especially in legal settings. The Delhi High Court’s decision to accept Shukla’s apology and discharge him from the proceedings reflects a compassionate approach to justice, considering the personal circumstances that led to his actions.
