The Allahabad High Court has convicted Devendra Kumar Dixit for criminal contempt after he made unfounded corruption allegations against sitting judges. The case stemmed from a complaint dated April 30, 2016, wherein Dixit accused judges of colluding with corrupt officials in dismissing his writ petition. The court ruled that his claims were frivolous and scandalous, thereby undermining the authority of the judiciary.
A division bench comprising Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Brij Raj Singh noted that the allegations lacked any evidence and fell within the scope of criminal contempt under Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. The court emphasized that such statements tend to erode public confidence in the judiciary and interfere with the administration of justice.
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Background of the Case
The case originated when Devendra Kumar Dixit submitted a complaint to the President of India, which was later forwarded to the High Court. The Acting Chief Justice took cognizance of the matter on June 9, 2016, and initiated contempt proceedings. Subsequently, a notice was issued to Dixit on October 19, 2016, requiring him to explain his allegations.
Dixit sought time to respond and later filed an objection regarding the maintainability of the case. However, the court dismissed his preliminary objection on October 12, 2022. His formal reply was filed on December 8, 2024, and after considering all materials, the court framed charges against him on January 16, 2025.
Court’s Observations and Ruling
The court scrutinized the complaint and found that Dixit had accused judges of accepting bribes through Senior Advocate Jaideep Narayan Mathur to dismiss his writ petition. He alleged that his petition was rejected on the very first hearing as part of a corrupt deal. These assertions, according to the court, constituted a direct attack on the integrity of the judiciary.
Dixit later requested a cover letter from Rashtrapati Bhawan, arguing that it was essential for his defense. However, the court ruled that the letter had no relevance to the contempt proceedings. Since Dixit had already admitted to submitting the complaint, the court saw no justification in his request.
Precedents and Legal References
The judgment referenced several Supreme Court rulings to underscore the gravity of the offense. Citing Shamsher Singh Bedi v. High Court of Punjab and Haryana (1996) 7 SCC 99, the court noted that scandalous remarks against judges, especially in their judicial capacity, constitute contempt. Similarly, in T. Deen Dayal v. High Court of A.P. (1997) 7 SCC 535, the Supreme Court ruled that making baseless accusations against judges with the intent to undermine their credibility is punishable under the Contempt of Courts Act.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court's verdict in Prashant Bhushan & Another In Re: (2021) 1 SCC 745 was cited, reaffirming that judiciary's authority must be upheld to maintain public trust in the rule of law.
Verdict and Punishment
The court held Dixit guilty under Section 2(c)(i) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. Given his old age and the fact that this was his first offense, the bench imposed a fine of ₹2,000, payable within one month. The court further ruled that failure to deposit the fine would result in a simple imprisonment of one week.
Quote from Judgment:
"The contents of the complaint clearly fall within the purview of criminal contempt. The contemnor has scandalized and lowered the authority of the court, which amounts to interference in the administration of justice."
The Senior Registrar of the High Court was directed to ensure compliance with the judgment.
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Case title - State of U.P. vs. Devendra Kumar Dixit 2025
