The Supreme Court on Friday called for a response from Rajiv Khosla, a prominent bar leader, regarding the plea of former Delhi district court judge Sujata Kohli, who has challenged his exoneration in a contempt case by the Delhi High Court.
The contempt proceedings stem from an incident in November 2021, where it was alleged that Khosla and his supporters created chaos in a courtroom at Tis Hazari Court, obstructing court proceedings as the sentence against him was about to be pronounced. This event followed a 1994 incident where Kohli, then a practicing lawyer, claimed that Khosla had physically assaulted her by pulling her hair.
In February, the Delhi High Court dismissed the contempt case against Khosla, who had previously served as the president of the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA). The court found insufficient evidence of criminal contempt, noting that the courtroom was overcrowded and the alleged contemnor’s voice was not audible in CCTV footage.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, took up Kohli’s appeal against this decision. Senior advocate Indira Jaising, representing Kohli, criticized the high court’s findings, highlighting the severe impact of the alleged misconduct on the administration of justice.
Jaising recounted the 1994 assault, emphasizing the long-term implications it had on Kohli’s professional life and the broader legal community. She argued that Khosla’s actions, both past and during the 2021 courtroom chaos, represented a pattern of behavior unbecoming of a bar leader.
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In addition to seeking Khosla’s response, the Supreme Court has requested the Registrar General of the Delhi High Court to provide a sealed report detailing the events of the contentious day when the disturbance occurred.
