The Supreme Court today said an apology by a contemnor cannot be rejected only on the ground that it is qualified so long as it is made bona fide.
"The explanation to Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act makes it clear that an apology tendered by a contemnor should not be rejected merely on the ground that it is qualified or conditional so long it is made bona fide," a bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam and Ranjan Gogoi said.
The bench set aside the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court which had not accepted the apology of a person who in his reply to a contempt notice offered explanations before tendering the "unconditional and unqualified apology".
"In the present case there is nothing on record to suggest that the unqualified and unconditional apology tendered by the appellant in his reply before the High Court was actuated by reasons that are not bona fide," the bench said.
