HC convicts man for contempt of court

The case pertains to the recovery of some loan amount from a person by a co-operative society. Patel is the office-bearer of Dhruv Credit Co-operative Society. And one Ramesh Raval had borrowed Rs 60,000 from the credit society as loan for housing purpose at the relevant time.

When Raval stopped paying the installments for the loan,the society moved the tribunal for the co-operative society. The tribunal had ordered to seal the property of Raval and this order was challenged by Raval at the HC. The relevant bench of HC had in one of its orders,directed to open the seal of Raval’s property.

Patel had challenged this order in a review petition,in which he made some scandalous remarks against the courts and went on to make allegations despite the court giving him warnings of initiating contempt proceedings.

Ultimately,the court made sure his presence before it and then sent him to the Sabarmati Central Jail under judicial custody recently. During the contempt proceedings,Patel had pleaded guilty. Subsequently,the court announced its verdict and sentenced him to imprisonment for three months while imposing fine of Rs 2,000. The period of seven days which Patel spent in jail will be set-off against the punishment of three months.

While pronouncing the judgment,Justice Patel observed that this was the only second case where the HC convicted a person under the provisions of the Contempt of the Courts Act.

A trade union activist was convicted for the contempt of the court in the 90s.

Sessions judges transferred

The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday ordered transfer of 23 sessions judges. Sources said that five of the transferred judges are from Ahmedabad City Civil and Sessions Court,including Principal Sessions Judge P B Desai. Desai has been reportedly replaced by Sessions Judge S H Vora. State Law Secretary O L Pandey confirmed the transfers.