LUCKNOW, Aug. 24 -- The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has taken a serious view of an alleged attempt to influence civil judge (senior division) Shabina Khan, who is hearing a long-pending land dispute in Gonda.

The court said that the alleged pressure exerted by Devipatan divisional commissioner Durga Shakti Nagpal, a senior IAS officer, on the civil judge by calling her, is prima facie a direct attack on the independence of the judiciary and creates hindrance in the administration of justice.

The high court stated that the matter warranted consideration under criminal contempt. The court directed that the matter be brought before the appropriate court after obtaining necessary directions from the chief justice or the senior...