New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed all proceedings pending before the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court against four French nationals in a contempt case.

A Bench comprising Justices K.G. Balakrishnan and D.K. Jain ordered notice on the special leave petition filed by the French directors of SAF Yeast Co. challenging the High Court order.

On a contempt petition filed by SAF Yeast Company Private Ltd., Mumbai, the Lucknow Bench on May 22 directed the personal appearance of Lucien Lesalffre, Alain de Gouy, Maurice Lesaffre and Alain Laloum on July 24 and asked them to show cause why contempt proceedings should not be initiated.

On July 14 the court rejected their applications for exemption from personal appearance. The SLP is directed against this order. On a mention, the apex court on July 17 stayed their personal appearance.

Appearing for the petitioners, senior counsel Soli Sorabjee and Mukul Rohatgi, and Fali Nariman for the bank concerned said the contempt petition was not at all maintainable and the High Court had no jurisdiction to entertain it.

Senior counsel R.K. Jain, appearing for the Indian company said the High Court should be allowed to decide the question of jurisdiction and the apex court should not interfere. The French nationals said the contempt petition filed for alleged violation of a lower court order was mala fide and motivated. None of the conditions for filing a contempt petition was satisfied. The High Court failed to see that the proceedings were being used for personal gain and vendetta.

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