New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today
discharged nine practicing lawyers, facing contempt of court
charge for allegedly slapping a district court judge in July
last year, after they tendered an unconditional apology.
A special bench comprising Justices Vikramjit Sen, A K
Sikri and Sanjay Kishan Kaul also quashed the FIR registered
by Additional Sessions Judge Pankaj Gupta, posted in Rohini
court, against eight lawyers including a woman for allegedly
slapping him and damaging public property.
The bench, however, directed that each lawyer will render
free service in 24 legal aid cases within a period of two
years.
The court also imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on Jai
Prakash, Pravee Davas, Rajiv Tehlan, Munish Chauhan, Rekha
Sharma, Vikas Gupta, Suresh Kumar, Rishipal Singh and
Radheshyam.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the incident, the bench
headed by the Chief Justice had issued notice to the lawyers
on contempt of court charges and had also constituted a
special bench to hear the proceedings.
The court had passed the order following a letter shot
off by the district judge, referring the incident to the Chief
Justice of the High Court.
A group of advocates including a woman had allegedly
slapped ADJ Gupta, who presides over the court dealing with
cases under the Hindu Marriage Act, on July 8 last year at
Rohini district court following a verbal arguments.
The incident sparked immediate protests from judicial
officers` associations in the capital.
The police had arrested two advocates --Vikas Gupta and
Rekha Sharma --after an FIR in the matter was registered under
various provisions of the IPC relating to rioting and
obstructing a public servant from discharge of his duties.
An urgent meeting of Delhi Judicial Service Association
and Delhi Higher Judicial Service Association was convened
within hours of the incident at Tis Hazari courts complex
which demanded strict action against the culprits and proper
security for the judges.
PTI
