Supreme Court Warns Of Contempt, Grants Final Deadline To NGO For Payment Of Costs

The Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Dipankar Datta took strong exception to the repeated delay in compliance, noting that the petitioner had failed to deposit the Rs. 45,000 penalty imposed on October 14, 2022, with only Rs. 10,000 paid so far into the PM CARES Fund.

“This is the last and final opportunity. The remaining amount must be deposited by June 30, 2025,” the Court ordered.

At the outset, Justice Kant said, "First you file the frivolous PIL and when cost is imposed you… for how many years you are moving this application? Now we will start imposing cost for filing these applications also."

The Bench noted, "The petitioner has failed to deposit the cost Rs. 45,000 as imposed by this Court on 14.10. 2022, while dismissing the petitioner’s Writ Petition for particularly …repeated applications have been moved thereafter seeking extension of time. The petitioner is said to have deposited sum of Rs. 10,000 in the PM Care Fund on 26.03.2025. A request is made to extend the time to grant 1 more month to deposit the balance amount of Rs. 25,000."

Taking a lenient view, the Court granted a last and final opportunity to the petitioner to deposit the remaining amount by 30th June, 2025.

The Bench also made it clear that the Registry should not entertain any further applications for extension, warning that failure to comply may invite suo motu contempt proceedings. "The registry is directed not to entertain any miscellaneous applications thereafter for extension of time. In case, the petitioner does not submit a compliance affidavit, a Suo Moto contempt of court proceedings may be initiated," the Court ordered.