The Madras High Court Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul today reserved orders on the issue of referring the contempt petitions filed against two leaders of Madurai Bar Association to a larger bench or "to continue the matter as such."
"The only issue before me is whether to refer to a larger bench for taking decisions on the larger issues referred in the order of division bench or to continue the matter as such," the Chief Justice said after hearing counsel N G R Prasad for one of the contemnors.
A division bench, which dealt with the suo motu contempt proceedings against the two Madurai Bar Association leaders, had on September 30 given a split verdict on referring the matter to a larger bench.
While Justice S Tamilvanan opined in favour of referring the matter to a larger bench, Justice C.T. Selvam was of the opinion that the matter may be decided by the present bench itself.
Justice Tamilvanan had then directed the Registry to place the matter before the Chief Justice to pass appropriate orders.
Prasad submitted "we are not for confrontation but for negotiations. Such a serious view need not have been taken."
The Chief Justice said "as nothing worked out, bitter pills have become necessary." He had held talks with "the Madurai people even without invitation" but it should not be taken as weakness.
"No chief justice wants such a situation. Tough decisions are warranted by the situation," the CJ said.
The counsel said policemen are seen more in numbers in the High Court and also assured the CJ that they are ready to co-operate.
The CJ said "dialogue process is different but I have to take a decision on the case referred to me."
The counsel said the issue could have been resolved through negotiations.
The CJ then said "you accept the gravity of the problem, if you ignore it will lead to larger issues."
The division bench had initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against Madurai Bar Association President A Dharmarajan and Secretary A.K. Ramasamy in connection with a procession taken out by them in Madurai protesting a high court order making wearing of helmets compulsory and raising slogans against the Judge who had passed the order and also passing a resolution making "defamatory" statements against almost all judges of the court.
