Kerala HC Closes Contempt Case Against Journo Who Alleged Corruption, Nepotism In Judicial Appointments [Read Judgment]

He offered to publish in a regional newspaper having wide circulation in Kochi, a corrective-cum-apology

The Kerala High Court has closed a criminal contempt proceeding against a man who, in his newspaper article, alleged corruption and nepotism in judicial appointments.

Jaleel TA, owned a weekly newspaper named My Kochi, and he published an article in December 2016, alleging that the collegium had recommended the names of three advocates, one of whom is understood to have no practice at all.

He also alleged in his article that two advocates found place in the panel because a particular judge had showed special interest. There was a further statement in the article that that several lawyers with no merit have become judges using their influence and that there has been huge corruption in judges’ appointments.

As the matter reached the High Court division bench comprising Justice PN Ravindran and Justice Dama Seshadri Naidu, Jaleel, though initially defended his article contending that he was “moved” and “naturally doubted that the ongoing sufficient process is not fair”, offered an unconditional apology later. He also offered to publish in a regional newspaper having wide circulation in Kochi a corrective statement-cum-apology.

The bench then closed the contempt case accepting Jaleel’s apology and his offer to publish a corrective statement-cum-apology in a regional newspaper within 30 days.