JUDGMENT

R.C. Lahoti, J.-The main matter, i.e., Civil Appeal No. 7919/2001 stands disposed of by the judgment separately pronounced by us today. An unsavoury off-shoot of that litigation wherein the respondent in Civil Appeal is facing a charge under Section 14 of Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, because of scurrilous attack against an eminent brother judge of ours in this Court made through irresponsible, unfounded and reckless allegations contained in his affidavits filed during the course of proceedings, remains to be disposed of, which we hereby do.

2. The plaintiff-respondent in the Civil Appeal, the contemnor herein, served with the charge sheet, has shown cause. We have heard him at length and with patience. Fortunately, at the end good sense has prevailed upon the contemnor. He has felt genuinely apologetic, and said so with folded hands regretting all that has happened leading to initiation of proceedings of contempt. He has, during the course of hearing, posed and reposed, expressed and re-expressed his full faith in this Court and tendered apology without any reservation. Not only he expressed so to us, he also volunteered to make a request seeking permission to withdraw his