Advocate Hari Narayan Pandey Avoids Penalty After Unconditional Apology for Disparaging Court Remarks
The Allahabad High Court, on February 24, 2026, accepted an unconditional apology from Advocate Hari Narayan Pandey, thereby discharging him from criminal contempt charges. The charges stemmed from an incident in January 2025, where Pandey used offensive and disparaging language in court, amounting to criminal contempt under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
The proceedings were initiated following a reference from Mr. Amit Mishra, the then Civil Judge (Sr. Div.) of Basti, who reported the contemptuous conduct. The division bench, comprising Justices J.J. Munir and Pramod Kumar Srivastava, considered the case after the advocate promptly tendered an apology, expressing genuine remorse for his actions.
During the hearings, Pandey admitted his fault and expressed deep regret, stating that his actions were not intended to dishonor the court. He assured the court of his future conduct, emphasizing his respect for the judiciary. The court noted his long-standing practice and absence of any prior misconduct as factors in their decision to accept his apology.
The judgment also served as a warning against the misuse of social media for spreading contumacious language under the guise of freedom of expression. The court expressed concern over the increasing instances of contemptuous behavior towards the judiciary on public platforms, cautioning that such actions could attract legal penalties.
Bottom Line:
Criminal contempt proceedings initiated against an advocate for using offensive and disparaging language in court. Advocate tendered unconditional apology accepted by the court considering his genuine remorse and absence of past misconduct.
Statutory provision(s): Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 Section 2(c), Section 15
In Re v. Shri Hari Narayan Pandey Advocate, (Allahabad)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2859184
