Published on : 10 Dec 2025, 1:59 pm 3 min read

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said the power to punish for contempt is not meant to shield judges from criticism but to preserve the dignity of the institution [ Vineeta Srinandan vs. High Court of Judicature at Bombay ].

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta made the observation while setting aside a Bombay High Court order that had convicted a Navi Mumbai resident for criminal contempt over a circular referring to judges as part of a “dog mafia.”

The Supreme Court today said that courts must temper punishment with mercy where the contemnor demonstrates genuine remorse and mercy must remain an integral part of judicial conscience.

“The power to punish necessarily carries within it the concomitant power to forg

See Full Page