Delhi High Court Drops Contempt Case Against Lawyer, Directs BCD to Review Professional Fitness

The Delhi High Court on Monday discharged lawyer Ranjeet Singh Malhotra from a criminal contempt case but requested the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) to evaluate his fitness to continue in the legal profession [Court on its own motion v Ranjeet Singh Malhotra].

Court’s Consideration of Medical Condition

A Bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain decided against coercive action, considering Malhotra’s medical condition.

“Given the medical condition of the respondent/contemnor, we refrain from taking coercive action against him for the disrespect shown to the concerned court. We discharge him with a word of caution that he must maintain court decorum in future,” the Court stated. The Court also directed the BCD to interact with Malhotra and assess his fitness to practice law.

Instructions to the Bar Council of Delhi

“We direct the Registry to communicate this order to the Bar Council of Delhi, which shall instruct the respondent/contemnor to appear before the Council for an assessment of his fitness to continue in this profession,” the May 20 order specified.

Background of the Contempt Case

The case originated from a 2021 contempt reference by Additional District Judge Hem Raj of the Tis Hazari Courts in Delhi. The lawyer was found conversing loudly in court, and despite being asked to stop, he continued to misbehave.

Over the next two years, further complaints about the lawyer’s misconduct were filed. In October last year, the High Court summoned the lawyer. His counsel reported his illness in January and March, leading to bailable warrants being issued.

Medical Evidence and Court’s Observations

On May 20, Malhotra appeared before the High Court and presented medical prescriptions indicating treatment for behavioral issues. The Court observed that his behavior confirmed acute issues and poor vision, affecting his ability to read, write, and communicate effectively.

“The manner in which he made submissions today confirms that he is suffering from acute behavioral issues and seems to get frustrated and annoyed for reasons best known to him. Additionally, he has very poor vision and cannot read or write, and does not realize what to speak and how to speak,” the Court noted.

Conclusion

The Court discharged the contempt case but emphasized the need for Malhotra to maintain court decorum in the future. The BCD was tasked with assessing his capability to continue practicing law.

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