Patna HC Quashes Contempt Notice Issued by Madhepura DM

Brief By Newsbrief / 7:09 PM on 28 Sep 2026

The Patna High Court has quashed a contempt notice issued by the Madhepura district magistrate against advocate Sushant Praveer. Justice Alok Kumar, hearing the lawyer’s petition, ruled that a DM functioning as a land acquisition authority does not have the power to initiate contempt proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

The advocate had alleged that the DM became angry after he requested a change in the hearing date in a land acquisition case and allegedly threatened to have him removed by security personnel. He subsequently submitted complaints to senior officials.

The DM’s office later sent a show-cause notice through WhatsApp, asking why contempt proceedings should not be initiated under Section 12 of the Act.

The state government informed the court that an inquiry had found no evidence supporting allegations of misconduct. The High Court said contempt proceedings can be exercised by the Supreme Court and High Courts, and quashed the notice.