In a sharp reminder that the courtroom is no place for games, the Supreme Court has found a man guilty of civil contempt after he tricked the bench into issuing an order he never intended to honor.
“A party who misguides the Court into passing an order with no real intention of complying tramples upon the very foundation of the legal process,” declared Justices Abhay S. Oka and A.G. Masih, making it clear that such antics won’t be tolerated.
The case traces back to a 2014 licensing agreement over a property in Munnar, Kerala. After defaulting on payments and dragging the matter through rounds of litigation, arbitration, and a 2017 settlement, the Respondent gave yet another assurance in 2022 — this time directly to the Supreme Court. He pledged to clear ₹1.72 crores in six monthly installments. Spoiler: he didn’t.
When the promised payments evaporated into thin air, the aggrieved party returned to court, seeking justice through a contempt petition.
The Court, unimpressed by the Respondent’s excuses, didn’t mince words. “From start to finish, the Respondent-Contemnor has treated this Court like a playground,” the bench remarked, adding that his antics were not mere financial missteps but a calculated affront to the dignity of the judiciary.
Making it clear that an apology or a fine wouldn’t cut it, the Court ruled that the Respondent must serve three months in prison and pay a ₹20,000 fine. If he dares to default on that too, extra jail time awaits. However, the Court gave him 30 days to either comply or face the consequences.
The message from the top court couldn’t be louder: court orders are not casual promises — they are solemn obligations.
