HC proposes 'contempt charges' against former Gujarat minister

Petitioner Rajendra Mistry has alleged that “On June 2, 2012, Dilip Sanghani had made derogatory remarks against the judiciary in public, at a government function in Jamnagar district”.

“The then law minister had said that the state government had the sole authority to allocate portfolios to its officers and transferring them,” Mistry's petition said.

“The courts did not have the authority to interfere. It is the responsibility and duty of the Centre to rein in the courts that go beyond the law and constitution,” the petition said, quoting Sanghani's words.

“He uttered many words that can hurt the dignity of the judiciary,” the petitioner said, while demanding contempt of court proceedings against the former Gujarat minister.

Earlier, the Gujarat High Court had sought Gujarat Advocate General Kamal Trivedi's opinion in the ‘contempt of court' charges case against the then law minister.

On April 17, Sanghani had to appear before the court at short notice since judges were not satisfied when he sought time to file a reply.

Incidentally, Sanghani was defeated in 2012 assembly election from the Amreli constituency by Congress candidate Paresh Dhanani.