"With utmost respect, I won't apologise:" Lawyer tells Gujarat High Court in contempt of court case

A lawyer on Tuesday refused to apologise to the Gujarat High Court in a contempt of court case against him, arguing that he did not do anything wrong [Suo Motu v. Brijesh Jasvantray Trivedi]..The lawyer Brijesh Jasvantray Trivedi maintained that he did not do anything wrong. The contempt proceedings arose from an order dating to July 15, 2019, where the contemnor was accused of making submissions and browbeating the Court, after the hearing in a case he was arguing, had concluded.It was the Bench’s opinion at the time that his conduct amounted to interfering with the administration of justice, and “bringing ignominy to the institution”."Mr. BJ Trivedi, learned counsel for the applicant continued to make submissions seeking time to verify computation by raising his voice and when the court indicated that the matter is already disposed of, he started browbeating the Court, indulged into heated verbal spats, and the whole conduct was intemperate and unbecoming of a lawyer," the Court had said in its order. .When the case came up for hearing before a Bench of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh J Shastri on Tuesday, the lawyer appearing in-person denied the allegations altogether, and explained the sequence of events leading up to the allegation of contempt..“You do not want to put this matter to quietus?” the Chief Justice asked the contemnor.He took a firm stand in response and stood his ground. “No, Sir I am not going to apologise with utmost respect to the Hon’ble Bench. I will not say sorry, because I have not done (anything),” he said..The Court then opined that it is being forced to frame charges against him.The order recorded that the Court had urged the lawyer to express his remorse and put a quietus to the matter, however they failed in swaying him. .The case was listed on the March 15 for framing of charges, with the Bench yet again encouraging the lawyer to reconsider putting the matter to rest.“We do hope and trust by that time, further wisdom would have dawned upon the contemnor and he may retrace his steps and give a quietus to the present proceedings which would requires not be carried in the best interest of the institution and the lawyers fraternity,” the order noted..It was the reasoning of the Bench that the fact remained that there was value attached to the proceedings of the Court, and the same could not be ignored.