Kerala High Court Transfers Temporary Magistrate Facing Lawyers' Protest Over Direction To Arrest Advocate

The Judicial First Class Magistrate (JFCM) on temporary service, Tirur, Lenin Das, who was alleged to have verbally abused a junior lawyer and directed his arrest, has been transferred to Kannur to the post of Additional Munsiff. 

Bar associations had launched protests against the Magistrate following reports that the officer misbehaved with a young lawyer. The Magistrate was alleged to have verbally accused Advocate Favad Pathoor, for allegedly assisting a witness during chief examination, and went onto direct his removal from Court premises, and arrest by the police.

Pursuant to a letter having been received from the Tirur Bar Association addressed to Judge-in-charge of Malappuram, seeking the Magistrate to either be removed or transferred, the Kerala Bar Council Chairman Anil Kumar K.N. announced yesterday that the Council had received assurance Justice Nagaresh regarding the transfer of the Magistrate. 

It is in light of such circumstances that the Registrar, District Judiciary issued the order today notifying the transfer of the Magistrate to Kannur. The Order further clarifies that the Munsiff, Tirur, shall hold full additional charge of JFCM, Tirur until further orders. 

Additionally, the Order also notifies the transfer of the present Additional Musiff, Kannur Vishnudathan T.S., to the post of JFCM-II, Kannur.