The Supreme Court yesterday asked nine government officials why contempt proceedings should not be drawn against them for distorting the decisions of the court on separation of the judiciary. A full court of the Appellate Division also directed the officials to appear in person before court on December 11 to explain their position. The order came after the attorney general, as asked by the court, explained why repeated time extensions were sought to implement a 12-point directive given by the court for separation of the judiciary way back in December 1999.