Patna: The Patna High Court today (Dec 16, 2003) rapped Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Laloo Prasad Yadav for ringing up the Chief Justice in connection with the contempt of court case against the State Chief Secretary and said, "This is a dangerous trend."

"This is a dangerous trend. Calling up the Chief Justice will not solve the problem. This is not working inside the system, it could destroy the system," a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice R S Dhavan and Justice S K Singh said while taking strong exception to the phone call from the Chief Minister and Yadav.

"What if this court had to pass an order on the call which was received from the Chief Minister? If the same thing had happened in the legislature, a breach of privilege proceedings could have been initiated. This court is not about to do that," the judges observed in their five-page order on an appeal filed by Chief Secretary K H Subramanian seeking stay on proceedings in the contempt of court case initiated against him by Justice R S Garg.

The contempt case related to non-compliance of an earlier court order for appointment of a full-fledged director in the Science and Technology Department in which the Chief Secretary was awarded judicial custody yesterday but later released on bail by Justice Garg.

PTI