JUDGMENT

Sulaiman, J. - This is an application by six of the accused in the Meerut Conspiracy Case drawing the attention of the High Court to the issue of the Times of India dated 25th February 1930, pp. 11 and 17 and praying that a notice be issued to the Editor and the Printer and Publisher, of the said newspaper to show cause why they should not be convicted for contempt of Court.

2. If I had thought it a fit case for issuing notice to show cause, I would have directed this matter to be laid before the Hon'ble Chief Justice for the constitution of a Bench of three Judges, as has been done in the past in regard to contempt of Court cases. But as I do not propose to take such a step, I think I have jurisdiction as a single Judge under Chap. 1, Rule 1(14) Sub-clause (b), High Court Rules, to dispose of this application when there is no rule expressly requiring it to be made by a Bench of two or more Judges. Also as the application has been sent through the Superintendent of Jail, I can according to the practice of this Court dispose of the matter in chambers without fixing any date for its hearing. The inherent jurisdiction formerly exercised is now expressly conferred by the Contemp