YouTube Video Against HC Judges: Kerala High Court Seeks Personal Appearance Of KM Shajahan In Contempt Case
The Kerala High Court has directed K.M. Shajahan, the then private secretary of the former Chief Minister of Kerala V.S. Achuthanandan, to appear in person before the Court in the suo motu contempt proceedings that have been initiated against him for making serious allegations against High Court judges in a YouTube video. The Division Bench comprising Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice...
The Kerala High Court has directed K.M. Shajahan, the then private secretary of the former Chief Minister of Kerala V.S. Achuthanandan, to appear in person before the Court in the suo motu contempt proceedings that have been initiated against him for making serious allegations against High Court judges in a YouTube video.
The Division Bench comprising Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice P.G. Ajithkumar directed the issuance of an urgent notice to Shajahan, asking him to appear before the Court on March 13, 2023.
The matter was first listed before another Division Bench on February 3rd. The petition seeking criminal contempt action had been filed by the High Court Registrar General alleging that Shajahan had made serious allegations against the Judges of the High Court in his speech which is available in the YouTube video channel 'Prathipaksham'. The speech pertained to an Advocate taking money from clients under the pretext of bribing judges. Shajahan's allegation that some Judges of the High Court are also involved in the said incident was alleged to be contemptuous and scandalising the judiciary.
On February 8, 2023, the Registry had been directed to serve a copy of the contempt case on the Advocate General, as stipulated under Rule 8A of the Rules under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
"Having considered the contents of the words spoken by Sri.K.M.Shajahan, who is arrayed as the respondent, in a YouTube video channel ‘Prathipaksham’, making serious allegations against a learned Judge of this Court, in connection with the incident in which Sri. Saiby Jose Kidangoor, an Advocate of this Court took money allegedly to bribe three learned Judges of this Court and the submissions made by the learned Senior Government Pleader, we are satisfied that a prima facie case has been made out under sub-clause (i) and sub-clause (iii) of clause (c) of Section 2 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971", the Court observed.
The matter has been posted for further consideration on March 13, 2023.
Case Title: Suo Motu v. K.M. Shajahan