The Bombay High Court has held that doctors cannot be spared the consequences of willful disobedience of a court order after patients were admitted to a hospital despite specific directions not to do so. The observation came in a contempt matter involving a secured property housing a hospital that was required to be vacated under a court order. The respondents cited the need to continue treating patients, but the Court held that admitting patients in the hospital in defiance of its specific directions amounted to aggravated contempt.

The Court emphasized that its directions must be obeyed and that respect for the rule of law and the authority of the Court must be maintained. The contempt petition was filed by a financial institution against respondents who allegedly failed to comply with a July 7, 2026, court order passed in a writ petition. The earlier proceedings concerned an…