New Delhi: Delhi High Court on July 10 issued contempt notices against four lawyers who allegedly manhandled a district court judge in the Capital on July 8.

“Prima facie, it amounts to contempt of court,” a bench headed by Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah said, taking suo motu cognisance of the incident involving an additional district judge and a group of advocates.

It issued notices to Munish Chauhan, Rekha Sharma, Rajeev Tehlan and Jai Prakash. The court constituted a three-judge special bench which will take up the matter Aug 4.

It also directed the accused to file their reply before the special bench. The group of advocates had allegedly slapped Additional District Judge Pankaj Gupta on July 8 at Rohini District Courts following a verbal arguments.

Gupta, who hears cases under the Hindu Marriage Act, was assaulted, sparking immediate protests from judicial officers’ associations in the Capital. The police arrested two advocates Vikas Gupta and Rekha Sharma after a first information report was registered.

An urgent meeting of Delhi Judicial Service Association and Delhi Higher Judicial Service Association was convened at Tis Hazari courts here which demanded strict action against the culprits and proper security for the judges.

The Bar Council of Delhi had on July 9 appointed a three-member committee to look into the incident.