Lawless Lawyers in Madras High Court

By Vijay Kumar

THE Madras High Court is one of the oldest High Courts in the country and was once one of the most respected for the high calibre and stature of its lawyers and judges.

This is what happened on 14th September, as described by the Chief Justice in an order dated 14th September 2015.

Today, the 14th day of September, 2015, when the Court assembled as usual at 10.30 a.m., we were confronted with the spectacle of lawyers in their robes and other persons / children accompanying them, holding placards inside the Court hall wanting Tamil as a Court Language. There was perceived possibility of such a situation on account of confidential information received in the office of the Chief Justice and hence, the local police authorities had been duly informed to prevent such a situation. However, a number of lawyers and other people, as referred to aforesaid, had already occupied the First Court, a few minutes before the Court was to begin its sitting. Some were lawyers in robes, but the police could not even prevent the entry of people not in robes and children. One of the lawyers, Mr.V.Murugan, spoke in English and Tamil, and was threatening to continue squatting in the Court till their demand for Tamil as Official language of the High Court was met. It was explained to him by the Court that their grievance in this regard cannot be redressed here. Even such counselling had no effect and they continued to hold the placards.

This is not the first time that the functioning of the High Court or the First Bench has sought to be distracted, for one reason or the other - whether connected with this Court or otherwise. There is also an unhealthy so-called practice of lawyers raising slogans and marching in the corridors.

This problem has far more aggravated in the Madurai Bench of this Court, where there have been such periodic incidents of advocates taking out processions, entering Court and disrupting proceedings, using handheld microphones and even occupying the Chamber of the Puisne Judges at the Madurai Bench.

It is time that such unhealthy practice are curtailed and there cannot be unauthorised ingress and egress to the Court. The Judges must feel secure while administering justice and thus, proper security has to be arranged to prevent such incidents, which not only disrupt the functioning of the Court, but can result in security breaches when Courts are concerned with sensitive matters, especially a Court like the present High Court and its Bench .

Helpless police? And this is what the Police Department has to say about the lawyers:

The Police Personnel in the High Court Campus are trying their level best to maintain strict discipline in the High Court Campus. They face a number of problems, while facing advocates and at least on 10 different occasions, for the past three or four years, the Advocates have beaten the Police Personnel.

In general many of the Advocates do not listen to the requests of the police authorities:

1) To show their Identity Cards.

2) Not to park their vehicles in the main arterial roads.

3) Bringing client/accused without entry pass, etc., in their own cars.

4) Playing cricket especially during holidays in the High Court car parking area.

5) Passing unnecessary/lewd remarks against women police personnel, especially those who would be in their early 20's.

6) Giving false complaints against clients, if they do not give the heavy fees demanded.

7) Accusing the police for no fault of their whenever they get an opportunity.

8) Not to take liquor inside the campus

9) Not to conduct "Katta Panchayat".

10) Not to take processions and agitations inside the campus.

11) In June, 2015, despite permission granted by the Hon'ble Chief Justice to conduct Yoga classes for the staff members in which many advocates and police personnel also participated, a group of advocates headed by M/s. Rajinikanth, Milton, etc., prevented the conduct of Yoga classes from the 4th day onwards.

12) Some Advocates conducted "Beef Eating" programme in the campus recently. "Beef Curry" was brought in a big vessel and distributed in use and throw paper plates to the Advocates.

13) In front of Dr. Ambedkar statue, packets containing "chicken, mutton & beef biryani" were distributed and many advocates sat and ate at that place itself.

14) Some Advocates, including Notary Public park their vehicles in the High Court campus even during night hours, without caring for the strict circular issued by the Registry.

The Tamil Nadu Government has notified the High Court as a High Security Zone.