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NON-REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO. 3765 OF 2006

DHIREN DAVE     APPELLANT                                           VERSUS

M/S. SURAT DYES & ORS. RESPONDENTS

J U D G M E N T       KURIAN,J.   

1. The appellant is aggrieved by the order passed by the  Company Judge directing prosecution of the appellant for the  offence punishable under Section 195 of the Code of Criminal  Procedure, 1973, initiating proceedings for contempt under  the  Contempt  of  Courts  Act,  1971  and  also  directing  initiation  of  appropriate  action  under  Section  21  of  the  Company Secretaries Act, 1980, if required.

2. During  the  course  of  hearing  before  this  Court  on  06.01.2016,   the  appellant  sought  permission  to  file  an  affidavit tendering unconditional apology for the unwitting  conduct  of  filing  the  affidavit  in  the  Review  Petition  before  the  Company  Court,  copy  of  which  is  marked  as  Annexure P-3.

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3.  In  the  affidavit  dated  08.1.2016  filed  by  the  appellant it is stated as under:

“ 2.That the deponent hereby deeply regrets and most  humbly tenders unconditional and unqualified apology  to  this  Hon'ble  Court  for  filing  affidavit  dated  01.07.2004 in O.J. Appeal NO.30 of 2004 before the  Hon'ble High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad. 3. That it is submitted with greatest humility that  I have always had the deepest and highest regard for  this  Hon'ble Court  and the  Hon'ble High  Court of  Gujarat  at Ahmeadabad  and have  made a  mistake in  filing  the  said  affidavit  for  which  the  deponent  once  again  regrets  and  humbly  tenders  unqualified  apology for the same. 4.  That  the  deponent  holds  this  Hon'ble  Court  in  great respect and esteem and prays to this Hon'ble  Court to graciously be pleased to accept the humble  apology and exonerate the deponent from the purview  of  the  contempt  proceedings,  for  the  offence  punishable under Section-195 of the Code of Criminal  Procedure, 1973 for committing an offence relating  to submission of the false documents and from the  directions of the Hon'ble High Court of Gujarat at  Ahmedabad to the Council of the Institute of Company  Secretaries of India, constituted under the Company  Secretaries  Act,  1980,  to  initiate  appropriate  action under Section 21 of the Company Secretaries  Act. 5. It is respectfully submitted that the Deponent is  a Company Secretary registered with the Council of  the  Institute  of  Company  Secretaries  of  India.  Petitioner is in the profession since 1996 and all  along had an unblemished career.  That the deponent  never  had  intention  to  show  any  disrespect  or  dishonour to this Hon'ble Court of the Hon'ble High  Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad.  The wrong averments  in the said affidavit was unintentional, and under  the foregoing circumstances the deponent humbly begs  to be pardoned for the same.”

4. Having gone through the affidavit and having seen the  apology thus tendered therein , we are of the view that the  proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act are only to be

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dropped.  If that is so, it would be unjust to permit other  proceedings under Section 195 of the Criminal Procedure Code  or under Section 21 of the Company Secretaries Act,1980 to  continue in view of the affidavit we permitted him to file  before this Court. 5. Therefore, all the three proposed actions against the  appellant are set aside, accepting the unconditional apology  tendered by him. 6. The appellant shall not indulge in any such adventures  in future. 7. The appeal is allowed as above with no order as to costs.

     ......................J.    [KURIAN JOSEPH]  

  ......................J.    [ROHINTON FALI NARIMAN

NEW DELHI; JANUARY 21 2016

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