Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 387
Discharge of offender on submission of apology
When any Court has under section 384 adjudged an offender to punishment, or has under section 385 forwarded him to a Magistrate for trial, for refusing or omitting to do anything which he was lawfully required to do or for any intentional insult or interruption, the Court may, in its discretion, discharge the offender or remit the punishment on his submission to the order or requisition of such Court, or on apology being made to its satisfaction.
Why this exists
The purpose of punishing contempt in view of the court is to protect the dignity and functioning of judicial proceedings, not to be needlessly harsh. This section gives courts the flexibility to show leniency once the offender demonstrates genuine remorse or compliance, encouraging respectful behaviour without turning every lapse into a permanent black mark.