Criminal contempt proceedings are on against petitioner Seema Sapra who had called the action of a bench “deceptive” in a comment. The case is before the Superme Court bench of Justices Kurian Joseph and Mohan M Shantanagoudar.

On Friday (February 9) the petitioner presented herself and asked for an adjournment, giving a rather strange explanation that somebody had blown poisonous fumes into her mouth and she wasn’t feeling well. While listing the matter after four weeks, the bench also directed her to submit in writing what she was trying to say.

The petitioner, who is also an advocate, had accused Justice Vibhu Bakhru of the Delhi High Court of corruption in an open court. Despite being warned she continued with her allegations on the judge. The petitioner had leveled the charges on account of the formation of a constitution bench comprising Justice S Muralidhar and Justice Bakhru, which according to her was improper and ‘deceptive’.

A division bench of Justices Valmiki J Mehta and P S Teji had initiated contempt proceedings against Sapra. The court held that the petitioner’s conduct amounts to criminal contempt and was punishable under Section 14 (1) of the contempt of Court Act, 1971. After the initiation of contempt proceedings against her, the petitioner requested for the matter to be heard by another bench as she had the right to under Section 14 (2) of the same act. The court had granted her request.

The matter has been listed after four weeks.

– India Legal Bureau