The Supreme Court on Thursday (September 10, 2026) said a judicial officer raising his voice at judges in court amounted to “gross indiscipline”, while declining to stay criminal contempt proceedings against a senior Maharashtra judicial officer accused of an “outrageous” and “unpardonable” outburst in a packed courtroom.
A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a plea by Dilip S. The contempt proceedings stem from an incident in which Mr. Ghumare allegedly raised his voice in the courtroom and blamed the Bombay High Court administration for vacant judicial posts.
Ghumare, Secretary and Senior Legal Adviser in Maharashtra’s Department of Law and Judiciary, challenging the Bombay High Court’s September 1 order initiating contempt proceedings against him.
The High Court had said that the officer’s “unwarranted outburst” and “aggressive demeanour” amounted to “contempt ex facie” under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
“A judicial officer cannot shout against the judges in a court… He should repent for his words. This is gross indiscipline. Even a senior bureaucrat does not dare to raise his voice in the court,” the Bench observed. Mr. The Bench, however, declined to stay the contempt proceedings, but restrained the High Court from passing a final order. The Bench also advised Mr. “Our advice to you is that you should go back to the High Court and seek an unconditional apology.
Ghumare was required to serve a three-month notice period and had since been posted nearly 1,000 km away in a Naxalite-affected region. He argued that the officer had merely pointed out that only 385 of 1,100 sanctioned judicial posts had been filled and that it was for the High Court to process the remaining appointments. It also issued notice on the officer’s plea and listed the matter for September 28, allowing the High Court proceedings to continue in the meantime. The controversy arose during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed in 2013 by RTI activist Vihar Durve concerning the creation and filling of posts in fast-track courts dealing with offences against women and minor girls.
Singh told the Bench that Mr. Let the High Court consider your request,” it said.
Ghumare to appear before the High Court and tender an unconditional apology.
