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Court of Appeal Halts Unprecedented Contempt Case Against Menon

5/13/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Court of Appeal halted an unprecedented contempt proceeding against defence barrister Rajiv Menon KC.
The appeal suspended the case pending the trial judge’s referral to Attorney General Lord Hermer and ruled that only the trial judge or Attorney General may address contempt, not the High Court.
Hickman & Rose called the decision a victory and said Menon hopes the matter is now concluded.

History

Historical Context

India’s Contempt of Courts Act, enacted in 1971 after the 1961 Sanyal Committee’s recommendations, consolidated civil and criminal contempt and capped penalties at six months’ imprisonment or a INR2,000 fine. The law, rooted in colonial statutes such as the 1773 Regulating Act, was amended in 2006 to allow truth as a defence. Recent challenges by Prashant Bhushan in 2020 echo ongoing debates over its scope.

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Story summary

The Court of Appeal halted an unprecedented contempt proceeding against defence barrister Rajiv Menon KC.
The appeal suspended the case pending the trial judge’s referral to Attorney General Lord Hermer and ruled that only the trial judge or Attorney General may address contempt, not the High Court.
Hickman & Rose called the decision a victory and said Menon hopes the matter is now concluded.

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