The Patna high court has sentenced Madhu Kumar, an education department official, to three days' simple imprisonment for failing to switch his mobile phone off in the courtroom.

Kumar will also pay a fine of Rs 1,000.

The sentence is the first of its kind in Bihar, may be even in the country.

There are notices pasted at the Patna HC's entrance and inside on notice boards requesting people to switch off cell phones is courtrooms.

"Kumar was charged with contempt of court for interference in the administration of justice," a court official said.

Kumar's mobile phone was seized when it rang in Justice R S Garg's courtroom and he was served a show-cause notice.

The court on Friday refused to accept Kumar's apology. "You may let cell phones ring in other courts, but I will not allow a mobile phone to ring in my court," Justice Garg told Kumar.
 
Interestingly, just as Justice Garg was passing the order, another mobile phone began ringing. It belonged to a police officer. The phone was seized by the court.