India, July 31 -- PRAYAGRAJ A judge of the Allahabad high court recused himself from hearing a batch of bail applications after an alleged attempt was made by a litigant to establish direct contact with the presiding judge following the conclusion of arguments.

Justice Krishan Pahal, who was hearing the bail application of Bhola Prasad, an accused in a codeine cough syrup smuggling case, observed that the incident amounted to a serious attempt to interfere with the independence of the judiciary.

In a strongly worded order, the court described the incident as a "black day in the history of the court" and reiterated that "the sanctity of judicial proceedings does not merely require that justice be done, it demands that justice must manife...