HC judge recuses from hearing lawyer's plea for contempt against 'Chhapaak' producers

A Delhi High Court judge on Friday recused from hearing a lawyer's plea seeking contempt proceedings against the makers of Deepika Padukone-starrer 'Chhapaak', saying he has worked with the petitioner-advocate.

The petition was moved by advocate Aparna Bhat who had represented acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal on whose life the movie is based.

Bhat, in her plea, said the filmmakers had violated the high court's January 11 direction to give her credit for the inputs she shared with them.

Justice A K Chawla said he and advocate Bhat had worked together when he was a lawyer and therefore, he would not be hearing the matter.

He directed the registry to list the case before another bench for January 27.

Justice Prathiba M Singh had on January 11 directed the film's director Meghna Gulzar and producer Fox Star Studios to acknowledge the advocate in the opening credits by including the line "Inputs by Ms Aparna Bhat, the lawyer who represented Laxmi Agarwal, are acknowledged".

The lawyer has contended that the film was screened without complying with the direction and therefore, a contempt of court proceedings be initiated against the filmmakers.

The January 11 order had come on a plea Fox Star Studios challenging a trial court's order asking it to acknowledge the contribution of the advocate. The film was released on January 10,