Hyderabad, August 12, 2025 –
The Supreme Court strongly rebuked petitioner N. Peddi Raju and his legal team for making scurrilous allegations against Telangana High Court Judge Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya in a case involving Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
A bench led by Chief Justice B. R. Gavai, with Justices K. Vinod Chandran and Atul S. Chandurkar, noted a troubling trend. They stressed that assuming High Courts cannot deliver fair justice when political figures are involved is contemptuous.
The High Court had earlier quashed a 2016 atrocity case filed against CM Revanth Reddy under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, citing lack of evidence and absence of the accused at the scene.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court directed Peddi Raju and his lawyers to offer an unconditional apology before Justice Bhattacharya. It’s up to her whether to accept it.
CJI Gavai recalled a recent case where the Court accepted a lawyer’s apology. He emphasized that forgiveness often upholds the dignity of the law better than punishment.
Why This Coverage Matters
- Judicial Integrity at Stake
The Supreme Court reaffirmed equality between High Court judges and Supreme Court judges under the Constitution. Criticizing judicial integrity undermines public confidence. - Political Sensitivity
Cases involving prominent political figures often draw assumptions. The Court warned that such presumptions erode trust in the judicial process. - Precedent of Mercy
Accepting apologies demonstrates the judiciary’s maturity and belief in restorative justice.