Madras HC turns war-zone over controversial advocates’ case, unruliness galore

As tensions simmers at the Madras High Court campus over the suo motu contempt proceedings initiated by the HC against two Madurai-based Bar members, who also happen to be heavyweights, heavy reinforcements were called in to protect the judges, as bus-loads of lawyers poured into the Chennai court-campus from Madurai. The two-judge bench hearing the case was shielded by iron barricades and hundreds of policemen.

Media reports suggest that the trouble first started when some lawyers blocked NSC Bose Road and were dispersed by the police. At 2 15 PM, when the hearing began, hundreds of lawyers tried to enter the court premises, where the hearing was to be held in-camera. Soon after, “defamatory slogans” were raised against the judges, says TNIE.

The lawyers wanted to meet the governor too, but could not do so.

The ninety-minute hearing on a contempt proceeding, the Madurai-lawyers facing contempt charges said they had nothing to do with a rally which was held in Madurai court campus earlier this month releasing a list of corrupt judges.

Times of India reports that the jurists say that action should be taken against lawyers for their unruly behaviour. Jurists have told ToI that there are three options - one, the bar council should dismiss the culprits; two, the high court itself should take action against the lawyers; and three, the police should take action against the lawyers.

Says ToI,

Non-action on the part of judiciary on such people is breeding more such incidents, senior advocate and additional solicitor general of India G Rajagopalan told TOI. Asked if en masse contempt action was possible at all, he shot back: “Why not? Of 8,000 practising lawyers, what harm would suspending 100-150 lawyers cause? Once suspended they lose their right to enter the court, and it will restore order immediately.”