The Supreme Court on Friday declined to stay contempt proceedings initiated by the Bombay High Court against Maharashtra Law and Judiciary Department Secretary and senior judicial officer Dilip S. Ghumare over his alleged conduct during court proceedings.
A Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta issued notice on Ghumare’s plea and listed the matter for September 28, 2026. However, it restrained the Bombay High Court from passing any final order in the contempt proceedings until then.
Ghumare was proceeded against after he allegedly blamed the High Court administration for failing to fill 179 sanctioned Fast Track Court posts while appearing before it as Law Department Secretary.
Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for Ghumare, denied that he had shouted at the Court and urged the Supreme Court to examine the audio-video recording. He submitted that Ghumare had merely raised his voice because he was not near the microphone. Singh further noted that the High Court’s order described Ghumare’s demeanor as an aggressive, high-pitched response that bordered on shouting.
Justice Mehta, however, termed the conduct “gross indiscipline”, remarking, “An officer can’t come and shout at the court.” Justice Nath observed that even if the High Court was responsible for delays, a judicial officer could not blame it in open court.
Justice Nath advised Ghumare to tender an unconditional apology before the High Court. Singh said Ghumare had already tendered one, but it was rejected.
Singh further submitted that Ghumare had been transferred the next day to a location nearly 1,000 kilometres away in a Naxalite area, and argued that the proceedings were demoralising the lower judiciary.
The Supreme Court observed that the transfer was within the government’s administrative domain but granted interim protection by preventing the High Court from passing a final contempt order until September 28.
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