Kerala High Court Initiates Suo Motu Contempt Proceedings Against Lawyer For Alleged Misbehaviour In Court

The Kerala High Court has initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against Advocate Yeshwanth Shenoy for his alleged misbehaviour in Court.

The lawyer had allegedly displayed intemperate behaviour and raised allegations against Justice Mary Joseph, while appearing in a case before her.

“I will see that Your Lordship will be unseated from this post,” Advocate Shenoy had allegedly shouted in Court after an exchange with the Judge.

Pursuant to the same, Justice Joseph had filed a complaint, and a suo motu contempt petition was filed in the matter by the High Court Registry. Proceedings in this regard had been initiated two weeks ago.

“The act of Advocate Yeshwanth Shenoy amounts to scandalizing the authority of the Court and interference in the due course of judicial proceedings. Such behaviour is intended to lower the authority of this Court. It is a clear case of Contempt of Court,” the suo motu contempt petition had stated.

On considering the matter, the Chief Justice had directed the matter to be placed before the Bench dealing with criminal contempt cases.

Yesterday, the Division Bench comprising Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Shoba Annamma Eapen issued notice to Advocate Shenoy, and appointed Senior Advocate Seemandini V.P. as counsel to assist the Court in conducting proceedings against the alleged contemnor.

Interestingly, Advocate Shenoy has filed a writ petition before the High Court alleging that Justice Joseph has limited the number of cases listed before the bench to only 20 matters a day, while other judges had 100 matters or more listed before them everyday. The lawyer had averred in his plea that the Chief Justice, being the Master of Roster, alone had the power to direct the Registry on listing of matters and that no Judge could interfere with the same or direct the Registry to curtail that list.

When the said writ petition was taken up before the Single Judge Bench of Justice Shaji P. Chaly today, the Court directed the Registrar General of the High Court to engage a counsel to proceed with the same.