P.N.S. Chouhan, J.

1. This is a reference under Section 15(2) of Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 (hereinafter the said Act)."

2. Shri Sharad Kumar Gupta, Civil Judge Class and J.M.F.C, Lakhnadon, District Seoni, has made this reference against respondent Shri Indra Dut Naik a practising Advocate of his court, based mainly upon a newspaper report which was published in Daily Deshbandhu, published from Jabalpur, in its issue of 3rd January, 1993. The gist of the news item is that on 6-12-1992, the Bar Association of Lakhnadon held a meeting which was attended by the aforesaid judicial officer, Shri Gupta. In that meeting, a political resolution was passed condemning the demolition of Babri Masjid at Ayodhya. Then, there is reference to a number of alleged irregularities being committed by the said judicial officer. The news item concludes in these words :

;gk ds yksxksa dh ekax gS fd bl rjg ls U;k;ky; esa dk;Zokgh gksrh jgh rks fuf'pr :i ls yksxksa dks U;k; ikuk dfBu gks tk,xk vkSj vnkyr Hkh vke foHkkxksa dh rjg ywV[klksV dk vM~Mk ek= cudj jg tk,xhA bl rjg dh xfrfof/k;ksa ij gLr{ksi fd;k tk, ftlls U;k;ky; dh xfjek ij dksbZ vkp u vk ldsA

Shri Gupta initiated action against the local cor