IHC larger bench dismisses contempt notices against registrar, deputy registrar

ISLAMABAD: A larger bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dismissed the contempt of court show-cause notices issued to the registrar and deputy registrar security by the court of Justice Babar Sattar.

The larger bench, comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, Justice Muhammad Azam Khan, and Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas, issued the order while hearing appeals against the contempt of court proceedings initiated against Registrar Sardar Tahir Sabir and Deputy Registrar Security Muhammad Owaisul Hassan.The order stated that contempt of court proceedings cannot be initiated against the appellants in the absence of any judicial or administrative order.

The court was informed that the Pakistan Bar Council and the Islamabad High Court Bar had called for a strike on May 9, 2024. According to the decision, Justice Babar Sattar had raised concerns about the difficulties faced by lawyers in accessing the courts, describing it as an obstacle to justice.As per the case record, the judge had written a letter stating that lawyers were being prevented from reaching the courts. The matter was first brought to the attention of the senior puisne judge and was later placed before the IHC Administration Committee.The court observed that the senior puisne judge, in an inquiry report dated May 14, had stated that no evidence was found of lawyers being obstructed from attending court. Similarly, the IHC Administration Committee, in its report dated May 20, had concluded that there was no evidence of lawyers being forcibly stopped.Justice Babar Sattar, while hearing a plea on May 21 to restore a dismissed petition, sought CCTV footage from the registrar's office. He found the response unsatisfactory and subsequently initiated contempt of court proceedings.The decision highlighted that a show-cause notice was also issued to the deputy registrar security, despite him being on leave on the day of the incident. The larger bench ruled that the contempt of court proceedings against both the registrar and deputy registrar security be terminated.