Madras HC Judge Seeks Contempt Action Against Tamil Actor Suriya Over Remarks On Judges Allowing NEET

Justice S M Subramaniam, judge of the Madras High Court, has written a letter to the Chief Justice of the HC, seeking to initiate criminal contempt action against Tamil actor Suriya over his remarks about judges in the context of the courts allowing the conduct of NEET exam amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a press statement, Suriya reportedly commented that while judges themselves are holding proceedings via video conferencing, they are asking students to appear for NEET exam without fear.

Taking exception to the above statement of the actor, Justice Subramanian wrote to Chief Justice A P Sahi on Sunday:

"The said statement in my considered opinion amounts to contempt of Court as the integrity and devotion of the Hon'ble Judges as well as the Judicial System of our Great Nation are not only undermined but criticised in a bad shape, wherein there is threat for the public confidence on the Judiciary".

According to the judge, the actor has "committed contempt" through his statements, and contempt proceedings were necessary "to uphold the Majesty of our Indian Judicial System".

The NEET exam was held in centres across the country on Sunday.

The Supreme Court had dismissed multiple petitions seeking the postponement of the JEE and NEET exams on account of the pandemic.

"We find that there is absolutely no justification in the prayer made for postponement of the examination in question relating to NEET UG-2020 as well as JEE (Main) April, 2020. In our opinion, though there is pandemic situation, but ultimately life has to go and the career of the students cannot be put on peril for long and full academic year cannot be wasted", said a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra, BR Gavai and Krishna Murari on August 17

The review petitions filed against the order were also dismissed later.