Thaindian News

New Delhi, Aug 21 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Friday appointed an outside expert to probe the role of four lawyers who had allegedly assaulted an additional district judge (ADJ) in Rohini district courts almost a month back.
A three-judge bench comprising of Justices Vikramjit Sen, Madan B. Lokur and Mukul Mudgal appointed an outside expert (amicus curiae) to assist the court to probe the matter and asked it to file its report by Sep 11, the next date of hearing in the matter.

The court had July 11 issued contempt notices to all the lawyers after taking suo motu cognizance of the incident.

Advocates Munish Chauhan, Rekha Sharma, Rajeev Tehlan and Jai Prakash had allegedly manhandled ADJ Pankaj Gupta after he issued a bailable warrant to a woman seeking divorce.

The order came after Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah took notice of a letter from the district judge referring to the incident.

The four advocates had allegedly assaulted Gupta after a verbal argument. The incident had led to immediate protests from judicial officers’ associations in the capital.

Appearing on behalf of the lawyers senior advocate K.T.S. Tulsi argued that it is not fair to initiate contempt proceedings against the lawyers.

However, the bench was not convinced with Tulsi’s argument and said: “The relation between bar and bench should be maintained under any circumstances.”

The court also asked the lawyers that if they have any complaint against any judicial officer then they should report the matter but not take the law into their hands.