NAJMI WAZIRI, J.

1. After 26 judges of the Delhi High Court had recused themselves from hearing this and another criminal contempt petition (Cont Cas Crl. 12/2014), the Hon”ble Chief Justice has constituted this Special Division Bench to adjudicate upon the two pending petitions against the respondent, Deepak Khosla - an advocate, who has appeared before the Court.

Background/ Issue of Show Cause Notice

2. On 05.09.2014, in LPA No. 583/2014, the respondent, made certain unwarranted averments in his pleadings and in his oral submissions before a Division Bench of this Court comprising of Hon”ble Mr. Justice S. Ravindra Bhat and Hon”ble Mr. Justice J.R. Midha. Taking a prima facie view that the respondent”s submissions constituted criminal contempt and tended to scandalise and lower the authority/prestige of the court, the Court took suo moto cognizance of the same under Section 15(1) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 and issued a show cause notice, vide order dated 8.9.2014, as to why the respondent should not be punished for contempt. The said order reads:

“1. By a common judgment and order made today, this Court has disposed of LPA Nos. 550/2104 (sic) and 583/2014 on t