Contempt plea against Bhandari, Pal

ALLAHABAD, February 26: A petition charging Uttar Pradesh Governor Romesh Bhandari and Loktantrik Congress Party leader Jagdambika Pal with contempt of court will come up for hearing in the Allahabad High Court on March 3.

The petition, filed by Lal Mani Tiwari, a Vishwa Hindu Parishad worker, alleged that Bhandari and Pal had committed contempt of court by not abiding by the interim order of a bench of the court which heard a petition challenging the dismissal of the Kalyan Singh government. It alleged that the High Court had passed an order on February 23 in favour of Kalyan Singh at about 3.30 pm but Pal refused to vacate the chair of the Chief Minister for a long time though he was “well aware” of it.

On the other hand, Bhandari had not asked Pal to vacate the chair of the chief minister within reasonable time and “thus both had committed contempt of the court by disobeying the court order for a long time.” HC Justice J C Gupta today fixed March 3 as the next date for hearing the petition.

Meanwhile, the hearing on a writ seeking removal of Bhandari could not take place today as the Petitioner sought transfer of the case to another bench.