JUDGMENT

Dutta, j. -This appeal under section 19 (1) of the Contempt of Courts Act, herein after referred to as 'the Act', is directed against the judgment and order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissing the application for contempt filed by the appellant against Shri Bhajan Lal, who was then the Chief Minister of the State.

2. In the application for contempt. It was, inter alia, alleged by the appellant that one Shri Devinder Sharma was a Forest Minister in the Council of Ministers headed by Shri Bhajan Lat. The said Devinder Sharma was defeated in the legislative assembly election held in 1982. Shri Bhajan Lal, because of his political and personal relations with Shri Devinder Sharma, was personally very keen on giving him an office of profit. In order to achieve this objective, Bhajan Lal got an Ordinance being Ordinance No. 44 of 1982 promulgated by the Governor. The Ordinance, inter alia, provided the constitution of a Forest Development Board, According to the appellant, such Board was constituted with a view to appointed the said Devinder Sharma is its Chairman.

3. It was further alleged by the appellant that the constitutional validity of the said Ordinance was ch