NEW DELHI: The
Supreme Court
on Tuesday issued a
non-bailable warrant
against a man who repetitively failed to appear before the court in the suo-moto contempt proceedings initiated against him last year, reported Live Law.
The apex court had initiated contempt proceedings after
Upendra Nath Dalai
failed to deposit a Rs 1 lakh fine. The court imposed the penalty on Dalai after he filed public interest litigation seeking the court to declare
Satsang
founder '
Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra
' a '
parmatma
' (supreme spirit).
"I decline to appear in Court, " the man wrote in a reply to the court's notice.
The court's action comes after Dalai chose not to appear before the court even after being issued the bailable warrant.
The division bench of justices CT Ravikumar and
Rajesh Bindal
noted that Dalai was absent, despite the bailable warrant.
“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 bench said.
The court's non-bailable warrant mandates
Balasore
superintendent of police to ensure Dalai's presence at the court on the next hearing scheduled for February 13.
"India is a secular country and the petitioner cannot be permitted to pray that the citizens of India may accept Sri Sri Thakur Anukul Chandra as (supreme spirit)", the bench observed in the order as per the Live Law.
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