Supreme Court fines advocate and actress for wasting judicial time

The Supreme Court of India has imposed fines of ₹5 lakh each on advocate Rizwan Siddiquee and actress Rozlyn Khan (also known as Rehana Khan) for wasting judicial resources over an 11-year dispute. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta criticized both parties for failing to approach the court with ‘clean hands’ and for using the legal system to settle personal scores and protect reputations.

The litigation originated from allegations by Khan that Siddiquee committed professional misconduct by disclosing confidential client information to the media and issuing public notices without her consent. While the Bar Council of India had previously found Siddiquee guilty and suspended his license for two years, both parties challenged the decision through various judicial levels.

The Court noted that the parties suppressed relevant materials and engaged in embellishment. The justices emphasized that the time occupied by this dispute belonged to other litigants who were genuinely in need of relief.