A division bench of the Rajasthan High Court on Saturday issued a show-cause notice to Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot on a PIL, seeking suo moto criminal contempt proceedings against him.
The PIL was filed by local advocate Shivcharan Gupta on Thursday following the chief minister’s remark suggesting “corruption” in the judiciary.
A division bench headed by Justice MM Shrivastava and Justice Ashutosh Kumar heard the matter and issued notice to Gehlot, directing him to respond within 3 weeks. While talking to reporters in Jaipur, Gehlot stated, “Corruption is rampant in the judiciary today. I have heard that some lawyers themselves take the judgement in writing and the same judgement is pronounced.” However, after facing criticism, he later clarified that what he stated wasn’t his personal opinion and that he has always respected and believed in the judiciary. In protest against the chief minister’s comment, thousands of advocates boycotted work in the high court and lower courts in Jodhpur.