Sujata Kohli files application for withdrawal of her petitions before Delhi High Court against Rajiv Khosla

Former District and Sessions judge Sujata Kohli has filed for withdrawal of her petitions before the Delhi High Court, one seeking contempt of court proceedings against former Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) president Rajiv Khosla, and the second, challenging lower court’s order on his sentence..The applications were filed after a Division Bench of the Delhi High on Thursday refused to list her contempt petition for further hearing on a shorter date.The Bench headed by Justice Siddharth Mridul had earlier issued notices in the contempt plea and even sought video recording of the proceedings before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) on Kohli’s allegations that the court was “held to ransom” and sloganeering was done to intimidate the judge pronouncing orders.However, as the petition came up for hearing on Thursday, the Bench was left with little time and listed it for further hearing on the next date.Kohli asked for a shorter date but the Bench refused saying that there were several personal liberty matters before it, and they are of utmost priority..In her applications, Kohli said that there is no doubt that personal liberty matter should be first priority of courts but a matter, where the very edifice of judicial system was under grave threat from people like Khosla, where an effort was made to bully and heckle the court, should also have deserved priority that it did not.“…since it is evident that this like matter is certainly not on the priority list either of the state or of our esteemed Judiciary, as such the Petitioner with all due respect submits that, she also does not wish to pursue this matter any further, as it is no more her priority either, and she humbly seeks permission to withdraw the petition,” the application said..In the other petition, Kohli had challenged Khosla’s sentencing where he was let off with a fine. The case was heard by Justice Chandra Dhari Singh on Monday.Kohli asked the Court to transfer the matter to the Division Bench already dealing with her contempt petition, however, the judge said that this was a matter to be dealt with by a single-judge.After hearing it for some time, Justice Singh recused himself and listed the case for further hearing before another Bench..Kohli now said that she had filed the petitions and decided to pursue them in person in an effort to highlight the condition of courts at the district level. However, she has come to know that the matter is not of priority for either the State or the judicial system..On November 6 last year, Khosla was convicted by a Delhi court for assaulting Kohli in 1994. She was then a lawyer practising at the Tis Hazari Court. CMM Gajender Singh Nagar found Khosla guilty of offences under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, more than 27 years after Kohli filed the complaint against Khosla.Back in August 1994, Kohli accused Khosla of pressuring her to join various protests and demonstrations. On July 29, 1994, she was asked to attend a seminar on family courts but declined as she was busy. Khosla then threatened her and said that all the facilities provided to her would be taken away.She filed a civil suit seeking an injunction, but soon after that, her table and chair at the court complex were removed.In August 1994, she moved an application for changing the nature of the suit from permanent injunction to mandatory injunction. Though the Court asked the parties to maintain the status quo, the Civil Judge said that she would also visit the site on the same day.While Kohli was waiting on her seat for the judge, Khosla arrived with another co-accused named PS Rathi and a mob of 40-50 people, pulled Kohli by her hair, twisted her arms and dragged her while hurling abuses and threats.