JAGDISH PRASAD PARASHAR Vs. RAJENDRA KUMAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is a reference under Section 15 of the Contempts of Courts Act, 1971 to this Court made by the First Additional Sessions Judge, Satna for taking suitable punitive action against the contemner Rajendra Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Satna, in showing scant regard to the communications made to him by the Court for service of summons on the witnesses in the Sessions Trial and thereby causing obstruction in expeditious disposal of the case within the time frame fixed by this Court.

(2.) Sessions Trial No. 88 was pending in the Sessions Court since 1984. On 25-3-96 in a Misc. Criminal Case No. 1417/96 this Court rejected the prayer of the accused for quashing the whole trial on the ground of inordinate/undue delay. While rejecting the prayer for quashing the proceedings the Court made the following observations and directed conclusion of the Sessions Trial within a period of three months :

(3.) The learned Sessions Judge by this contempt petition has complained that the contemner despite repeated letters and communications sent to his office did not co-operate and the summonses sent for service on witnesses were returned unserved. As a result of non-co-operation and dis-repectful attitude adopted by the contemner, the Trial could not be concluded within the time fixed by this Court and ultimately it resulted in passing a Judgment of acquittal on 1-2-97.