Prathiba Singh J. issues notice to Pranab Mukherjee, subsequently recuses

In an unusual occurrence, the Single Judge Bench of Justice Prathiba Singh of the Delhi High Court today issued notice to former President Pranab Mukherjee but later recalled the order and recused herself from hearing the matter..Justice Singh was hearing an appeal filed by one Umesh Chandra Pandey against an order of the trial court. The trial court had rejected Pandey’s plaint against Pranab Mukherjee for writing allegedly objectionable content regarding the Ram Janmbhoomi matter in his book titled ‘The Turbulent Years.’.The appeal filed through Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain states that the appellants felt that some recitals made in the book were contemptuous and lowered the dignity of the judiciary in the eyes of public..The petitioner has submitted that,.“The author of the book has tried to convey that the judicial order was passed for opening of the locks of temple complex due to error of judgment of the then Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi and has conveyed that the judicial orders in India are passed under the influence of political masters and executive pressures.”.The petition further states that the statement made in the book amounts to tarnishing the image of the judiciary in the eyes of the public and comes within the ambit of criminal contempt punishable under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act..The Bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh had initially issued notice on the appeal but later recalled the said order and recused herself from hearing the matter. The Bench, in its order, directed that the matter be listed before another bench as per the orders of the Acting Chief Justice..Read the petition below.Read the Order below.