Read Time: 05 minutes

The Supreme Court on Thursday deferred sentence till January in a plea in which the Court had held Rajiv Dahiya guilty of Contempt of Court in a plea against Dahiya for non-payment of cost of Rs. 25 Lakh imposed in PIL filed by Suraz India Trust which was later banned from filing PILs for life.

A bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice MM Sundaresh noted, "We'll defer sentence till January and then let's see how you behaves."

Suraz India Trust's MD Rajiv Daiya appearing in person submitted that I have submitted another unconditional appology.

However, the bench while defering sentence said that, "It is not pleasure of ours to convict somebody." The Court has listed the matter for further consideration on January 11, 2022.

Earlier, the Court had pronounced its judgment in contempt proceedings initiated by the court against MD of Suraz India Trust for not submitting the cost of Rs 25 Lakh awarded in a PIL filed by the Trust.

The Court had given three days time to the MD of the Trust Rajiv Dahiya for filing an unconditional apology for filing frivolous petitions and making scandalous remarks against the Judges.

The Court noted that the notice issued was a composite notice and the contemnor is guilty of contempt of court. Whereas, the bench further noted, "We would still give him one more chance, to hear the contemnor."

The bench has listed the matter for final hearing over the issue of sentence.

Background:

Earlier, the Court had issued a Bailable Warrant against the MD worth Rs. 10,000/- for not presenting before the court even after several directions.

Rajiv Daiya appearing before the Court had sought time to get some legal advice, however, Justice Kaul said that you are well aware of the laws and you are mistaken if you think you can get away with the laws.

Justice Kaul further added, "You would have said that I do not have resources we would have considered but you kept on filing applications including against this bench."

Daiya showing his inclination towards filing an unconditional opportunity submitted that all that I wanted to do was with good intentions.

Whereas ASG Aishwarya Bhati said, "his application scandalizing the Judges of HCs and Hon'ble Judges of this Court must be dealt with in a stern manner."

Case Title: Suraz India Trust Vs. Union of India