Chandigarh: Punjab and Haryana High Court on May 24 issued a contempt notice to local daily 'Tribune' in connection with a report carried by it claiming that the name of a High Court judge and senior superintendent of police (SSP), Jalandhar, had been added to the first information report (FIR) registered in connection with alleged corruption by a district judge and judicial magistrate.

Notices were issued to the officiating editor and reporter of the 'Tribune' to show cause why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them following the publication of the news report in May 24 edition.

The Central Bureau of India (CBI), which had recently caught First Class Judicial MagistrateS S Bhardwaj while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 7 lakh on behalf of Jalandhar District and Sessions Judge R M Gupta, was also issued notice to verify the information contained in the news report based on "sources in the CBI in Delhi".

A three-judge Bench comprising Justice G S Singhvi, Justice N K Sodhi and Justice Swatantar Kumar issued the notice for May 29.

Two local advocates Ashok Aggarwal and J K Sibal have been asked to assist the court in the matter.

The daily had reported that "CBI yesterday added the name of a Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge and the SSP, Jalandhar, after getting directions from the Union Home Ministry".

PTI