, seeking his response within four weeks on why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him, after he failed to appear before it, despite the Court issuing directions for the same){kind=link}
The Delhi High Court has issued showcause notice to its Registrar (Listing), seeking his response within four weeks on why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him, after he failed to appear before it, despite the Court issuing directions for the same.
The Single-Judge Bench of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh on Tuesday expressed disappointment over the ‘contumacious conduct’ of the Listing Registrar and said it led to obstruction in administration of justice.
Stating that such type of conduct was neither warranted, nor appropriate, the Bench observed that the Registrar (Listing) not only failed to discharge his official duty, but also caused difficulty in proceeding with the instant matter by outrightly demeaning the authority of this Court.
It said this negligence on part of the concerned officer prima facie led to obstruction in administration of justice. Such conduct in the face of the order of this Court was nothing but contumacious, added the Bench.
The matter pertained to listing of writ petitions filed by two Advocates on a similar matter. In April this year, a coordinate bench had ordered their petition to be re-notified on January 23, 2023.
The Bench noted that despite reflecting in Tuesday’s cause list as a connected matter in another writ petition, the plea by these Advocates was not listed before the Court.
The Court then called the officer concerned to clarify and assist the Court regarding the listing of the said writ petition.
After some time, when the matter was called out again, the court master apprised the court that despite the Registrar being told about the directions of the Court, no communication was received from him regarding his presence in the courtroom.
The Bench, after waiting for some time for the Listing Registrar to appear before it, issued showcause notice to him, seeking his reply over the matter within four weeks.
(Case title: Sh. Dilbagh Singh & Ors. vs Govt of NCT of Delhi and Ors)