The Supreme Court on Friday dropped contempt proceedings against retired apex court judge Justice Markandeya Katju after he tendered an unconditional apology for his comments against the judiciary in a blog post.
The bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and UU lalit closed the suo moto contempt case pending against the former judge after it was satisfied by the “unconditional” apology submitted on behalf of Katju by his lawyer senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan.
The bench said, “In view of the apology tendered, which has been duly verified, we close the instant proceedings.” Dhavan read out from the letter written by Katju that along with the apology expressed respect for the judicial process and judiciary.
Justice Katju had earned the ire of the Court after one of his blog posts criticized the knowledge and understanding of the judges in absolving a man, accused of rape and murder of a girl in Kerala, of murder charges while sentencing him for life on the charge of rape. the bench headed by Justice Gogoi, which passed the order in question, while entertaining the review petitions of the victim’s mother and the Kerala government. On reading the blog written by Justice Katju, the bench even invited the former judge to assist the Court.
The Court dismissed the review petitions on November 11 and questioned Justice Katju over his article. It was a dramatic scene when the bench suo moto initiated contempt even as Katju shot back saying, “Don’t give me threats, I won’t be afraid.” On Friday, the former judge was not present as he had sought exemption from personal appearance that was readily granted by the Court on an earlier occasion.