Contempt case verdict on CM, Laloo today

PATNA: A division bench of the Patna HC comprising Chief Justice R S Dhavan and Justice S K Singh concluded on Tuesday the hearing of the criminal contempt petition filed against CM Rabri Devi, RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav and others. The bench reserved its order for Wednesday.
The contempt petition was filed jointly by two practising lawyers of the HC, A K Pandey and Prakash Srivastava, requesting the CJ to issue show-cause notices to the persons committing contempt of court, frame charges against them and punish them for criminal contempt.
The contempt petition was filed in connection with the case in which the HC had passed orders initiating contempt proceedings against chief secretary K A H Subramanian on December 15, 2003. The petition said the orders hurt the "ego" of some ministers and bureaucrats and a local Hindi daily carried a news item on the telephonic talks Rabri and Laloo had with the CJ in which the CM was reported to have informed the CJ that if prevailing situation went on, the CS or other officials would not attend court.
"CM''s language downgrades the dignity of HC, and above all, compelling the CJ to talk to RJD chief and hear his unpalatable comments...This attempt amounts to direct interference in judicial matter, said the petition.