Heard learned counsel for the appellant.
By the impugned order, Madras Bench of the Central Administrative
Tribunal (for short, `the Tribunal') held the appellant guilty of contempt on the
ground that she violated the status quo order dated 12.12.2000 and directed her to
pay a fine of Rupees two thousand five hundred and in default, to undergo simple
imprisonment for a period of two weeks.
A perusal of the record shows that the appellant tendered unqualified
apology in the form of two affidavits dated 29.3.2001 and 25.4.2001 but, the Tribunal
did not accept the same. We have carefully gone through the two affidavits and are
satisfied that, in the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal should have
accepted the unqualified apology tendered by the appellant and should have dropped
the contempt proceeding.
Accordingly, the appeal is allowed, impugned order is set aside and the
unqualified apology tendered by the appellant is accepted.
No costs.
[G.S. SINGHVI] New Delhi, March 31, 2009.