Mixed response to Madras High Court verdict against lawyer

Madurai: The Madras High Court judgment punishing the suspended advocate W Peter Ramesh Kumar with six months imprisonment in criminal contempt charges, has evoked mixed response among the judicial fraternity here.

Though Kumar, the former president of The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court Bar Association had been practicing in Madurai since the bench was constituted in Madurai in 2004, he was suspended by Bar Council of India (BCI) on  September 22 last.

Many lawyers said that this judgment will be a deterrent for advocates who indulge in unruly behaviour inside the court hall. The court initiated suo motu criminal contempt proceeding against Kumar for allegedly having disrupted the court proceedings on September 16.

He had disrupted the court proceedings when a section of lawyers had protested at the court demanding to declare Tamil as the official language in the court. When Justice Sudhakar intervened and warned the protesting lawyers of strong action, Kumar reportedly challenged the court to take action against him if it had the “guts”.

The advocates said that he is a negative personality in this court who was known for ‘character assassination’ of fellow advocates by making false allegations against them.

“We were expecting this punishment for him,” said the advocates. This judgment also stands significant because it would prevent the young advocates from disrupting the court proceedings without focusing on their careers, they said.

The 12 other advocates who were suspended by the BCI might also face similar punishment. However some differ stating that the Kumar case is a criminal contempt.

Moreover, the division bench headed by Justice V Ramasubramanian and N Kirubakaran gave a chance for him to apologies in this case. According to the SC ruling, if the contemner asks apology, the court can exempt him from punishment, said an advocate.