The Madras High Court has expressed its strong displeasure over a lawyer making communal allegations against a sitting High Court judge and television channels for raking in money by running such stories, stating that both should be taken head on.
The Bench of Justice GR Swaminathan and Justice K Rajasekar made these observations while hearing a contempt plea against Advocate Vanchinathan for accusing Justice GR Swaminathan of caste and communal bias.
The High Court observed that initiating communal campaigns against judges on social media could ultimately undermine the judicial system. One could not condone acts of contempt in the name of freedom of speech and expression.
Noting that there was something called laxman rekha, which if crossed must invite peril, the High Court said the lawyers making such statements were guilty of professional misconduct.It further took note of an appeal made by former judges to desist from taking contempt of court action against Advocate Vanchinathan.
The Bench observed that the lawyer had mobilised a group of lawyers and retired judges to rush to his rescue. They have also passed reckless comments without waiting for the High Court verdict. The ‘gratuitous’ appeals and advice pouring forth have been ignored with the contempt they deserved, it added.
The post Madras High Court rebukes lawyer for making communal allegations against judge appeared first on India Legal.