Contempt charge against lawyers

CHENNAI: A specially constituted larger bench consisting of seven judges suo-motu initiated  criminal contempt proceedings against two advocates and a woman litigant for casting aspersions and levelling serious allegations against certain judges of the Madras High Court, on Thursday. “We are prima facie of the view that a clear case of criminal contempt is made out,” the larger bench comprising Chief Justice MY Eqbal and Justices Elipe Dharma Rao, D Murugesan, C Nagappan, R Banumathi, K Mohanram and P Jyothimani said and launched contempt proceedings against advocates T Jaishankar and S Pattabiraman and a woman litigant A Vimala, even though they offered apologies.The bench castigated the tendency of some advocates and litigants making allegations maligning High Court judges and dictating terms to place their cases before a particular bench on the ground that they had no faith in the particular judge or bench. They had also started filing writ petitions arraigning the judges and the Chief Justice as party respondents. “The tendency of maligning the reputation of the High Court judges by these disgruntled elements, who failed to secure orders as desired by them, is increasing day-to-day and it is high time that it should be nipped in the bud,” the bench observed. The Madras High Court, a chartered High Court, has a historical background and is a role model for other High Courts in all matters including disposal of cases. But because of a fraction of lawyers and litigants, the prestige of this High Court was now at stake, the bench added.A Vimala had filed a quo-warranto petition questioning under what authority Justice S Vimala, formerly Registrar-General, was holding the post of additional judge of the High Court.