KARACHI, July 17: Mohammed Sadiq Leghari, registrar of High Court of Sindh, was sentenced and fined on charge of contempt of court by a bench of Supreme Court, comprising Justice Syed Deedar Hussain Shah and Justice Hamid Ali Mirza.

The bench awarded simple imprisonment to Sadiq Leghari till the rising of the court and also fined him Rs3,000 under Section 4 of Contempt of Courts Act, read with Article 204 of the Constitution.

The contemnor was earlier asked by a bench of Supreme Court to submit a report about a constitutional petition filed by one Feroz Akbar that whether the petition was heard by a division bench or a single judge.

As the registrar of the SHC failed to comply with the orders by the apex court, a show-cause notice was issued to him. The registrar submitted an un-conditional apology and stated that the order (dated April 6), was received by him on April 11 and was marked to the concerned assistant registrar in routine, together with other mail. The alleged contemnor also regretted the inconvenience caused to the court and further submitted that he could not disobey the order of this court and the lapse on his part being not wilful be excused.

“The registrar, being a responsible judicial officer of the grade of district judge, has treated the order of highest court of country in a routine manner. It was his bounden duty to have cared and taken notice of the process issued to him for the compliance of the order received by him. Every mail which is sent for the perusal of the registrar is not disposed of in a casual manner”, the order by the bench said.

The reply by the registrar is neither bona fide nor any sincere un-conditional apology has been tendered for the wrong done which has impaired the dignity and authority of this court, the bench said, adding that “this is high time that such acts and omissions on the part of the administrative officers of the country should be taken notice of and curbed so that such acts and omissions with regard to disobedience of lawful order should not be repeated and that there should not be interference with the administration of justice. Therefore, the action be deterrent against such persons/officials,” the order said.

“We, in the circumstances, hold the registrar of the high court of Sindh guilty of contempt of court as he has committed disobedience of the lawful order of this court, therefore, he is punished and convicted under section 4 of the Contempt of Courts Act, read with Article 204 of Constitution of Pakistan and sentenced him to simple imprisonment till rising of the court and fine of Rs3,000 or in default to undergo three days simple imprisonment.

As Mr Leghari was not present before the court, the bench also issued bailable warrants in the sum of Rs10,000 against him to “appear and comply with the order of the court or in default, he be remanded to custody to serve out the sentence”.—APP