High Court On Its Own Motion v. Shri. Mahesh Chothe, Deputy Dir. Of Education
Digitally signed by GAURI AMIT GAEKWAD Date:
2025.04.22 10:54:09 +0530 GAURI AMIT GAEKWAD 32.SMCPC-4-2025.odt
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION SUO MOTU CONTEMPT PETITION NO.4 OF 2025 IN WRIT PETITION NO.3343 OF 2025 High Court on its own Motion ....Petitioner
Versus
Mahesh Chothe, Deputy Director of Education ....Respondent ---- Mr. Mihir Desai, Senior Advocate i/b. Mr. Vedchetan Patil for the Respondent.
Mr. B.V. Samant, Addl. GP for the State.
Mr. Mahesh Chothe, Deputy Director of Education, Kolhapur Division, Kolhapur.
---- CORAM : RAVINDRA V. GHUGE & ASHWIN D. BHOBE, JJ.
DATE : 21st APRIL, 2025 P.C. :- 1.
Pursuant to our order dated 4th April, 2025 passed in Writ Petition No.3343 of 2025, the Accused/Contemnor Mr. Mahesh Chothe is present in the Court hall. He has tendered his personal apology dated 9th April, 2025 through an affidavit in reply. The learned Senior Advocate Mr. Desai has made a valiant attempt to convince us that an apology could be accepted. He submits on instructions that his client has committed a mistake and admits that he did not understand the correct meaning of the judgment delivered Gauri Gaekwad
32.SMCPC-4-2025.odt in Friends Social Circle, Akola and Others v/s. State of Maharashtra and Others1 2.
We find, considering several instances of disobedience of the orders of this Court by the said Officer, who has suffered costs imposed by this Court, that his request to accept an unconditional apology does not seem to be a genuine gesture in the peculiar facts and circumstances which are visible from our order. 3.
On the quantum of punishment, the learned Senior Advocate Mr. Desai submits that time may be granted to enable the Accused/Contemnor to think over the issue and address this Court on the next date. Mr. Desai further submits that he may also make a written statement if an alternative to the sentence could be suggested by the Accused/Contemnor.
4.
On request, stand over to 25th April, 2025 for further hearing and dictating orders.
(ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.) (RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.) 2023 SCC OnLine Bom 1503 Gauri Gaekwad