CHAIR.WEST BEN.ADMIN.TRIBUNL. vs SK.MONOBBOR HOSSAIN

The Supreme Court addressed a contempt petition concerning the State Administrative Tribunal's failure to comply with a High Court directive. The Tribunal members offered an unconditional apology, which the High Court accepted but criticized their conduct. The Supreme Court reiterated that contempt powers should be exercised judiciously and not in a hyper-sensitive manner, referencing R.N. Dey v. Bhagyabati Pramanik and Suresh Chandra Poddar v. Dhani Ram. The Court emphasized that if a violation is not willful, contempt proceedings should be dropped, and no costs should be imposed, thereby upholding the principles of judicial grace and magnanimity.