Aggravated Contempt Leads to Stringent Measures; Lookout Notice Issued for Non-Compliance with Court Orders
In a significant development, the Bombay High Court has issued a non-bailable warrant against Vipin Sharma for repeatedly failing to comply with court orders. The Directorate General of GST Intelligence had filed a contempt petition against Sharma, leading to this stringent action. The court, presided over by Justices G.S. Kulkarni and Aarti Sathe, expressed serious concerns over Sharma's continuous disregard for judicial directives, terming his actions as aggravated contempt.
The court's decision came after Sharma failed to appear on multiple occasions despite giving an undertaking to do so. On 22nd April 2026, Sharma's counsel assured the court that he would be present on the adjourned date, which was set for 29th April 2026. However, Sharma did not honor this commitment, prompting the court to take decisive steps to uphold its authority and ensure compliance with its orders.
In its judgment dated 29th April 2026, the court highlighted that Sharma had not only breached the orders related to the contempt proceedings but also disregarded the directive to deposit his passport by 27th April 2026. In light of these actions, the court directed the issuance of a non-bailable warrant to secure Sharma's presence for the next hearing scheduled for 10th June 2026. Additionally, a lookout notice was issued to prevent him from evading the jurisdiction of the court.
The bench emphasized that these measures were necessary to maintain the dignity and authority of the judiciary, particularly in cases involving contempt. The court also underscored the importance of these actions in the larger interest of the revenue, given the nature of the proceedings involving the Directorate General of GST Intelligence.
The Bombay High Court's decision reflects a zero-tolerance approach towards contempt of court and serves as a stern warning to individuals who attempt to undermine judicial processes through non-compliance. The issuance of a non-bailable warrant and lookout notice underscores the gravity of the situation and the court's commitment to enforcing its orders.
Bottom line:-
Contempt of Court - Non-compliance of court orders and undertaking given to the court by the contemnor - Issuance of non-bailable warrant and lookout notice directed to secure the presence of the contemnor to ensure compliance with judicial orders.
Statutory provision(s): Contempt of Court Act, 1971
Directorate General of GST Intelligence v. Vipin Sharma, (Bombay)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2894553
