The Supreme Court in the case In Re: Contempt Against Upendra Nath Dalai observed and has issued the non-bailable warrant against one Upendra Nath Dalai for his repetitive failure to appear before the court in the suo-moto contempt proceedings initiated against him.
In the present case, the contempt proceeding was initiated by the Supreme Court last year when Dalai failed to deposit the cost of Rs 1 lakh Rupees that was imposed on him for filing a public interest litigation, PIL petition to declare Satsang founder ‘Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra’ a ‘parmatma’.
The bench comprising of Justice CT Ravikumar and Justice Rajesh Bindal in the case noted that Dalai was absent, despite the bailable warrant Dalai was absent, despite the bailable warrant.
The court noted that Dalai chose not to appear before the court, thus, the court issued bailable warrant to secure his presence in the court. The bench stated that he has committed contempt again by replying to the Court’s notice that ‘I decline to appear in Court.’
The court in the case expressed extreme displeasure with the conduct of Dalai and considered it disrespectful to the court’s earlier order.
The court observed that the non-deposit of the cost…that was the reason for issuing a contempt notice to the party (Dalai), and thereafter in response to that what he has written is that ‘I decline to appear in court.
The court in the case observed and has issued the non-bailable warrant to be executed through Superintendent of Police, Dist. Balasore to enable the physical presence of Dalai on the next date of hearing which is posted on 13.02.2024.
The bench comprising of Justice MR Shah (since retired) and Justice CT Ravikumar dismissed the writ petition filed by Dalai in December 2022.
The court while considering the facts and circumstances of the case stated that India a secular country and the petitioner cannot be permitted to pray that the citizens of India may accept Sri Thakur Anukul Chandra as (supreme spirit).
Further, the court terming the petition a ‘publicity interest litigation’, thus, the bench imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioner, which was to be deposited within a period of four weeks.
Accordingly, the court listed the matter for further consideration on February 13, 2024.
