Go before judges' panel, CJ Kaul tells agitators

Chennai: “For the past two months, the Madras high court is continuously appealing to the agitating lawyers to come and put forth before the committee”, said the high court Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul.

The CJ, before whom an advocate Suryaprakasam made a mention on Monday, said “it is very painful and get back to the work and go before the committee constituted by the HC”.

He said, “It is unfortunate and we regret the inconvenience caused. Operation of rules was made in the presence of lawyers. “Till I became a judge, I was a member of the Bar. If they want to challenge, let them go and challenge it before the Supreme Court. I am an outsider. All other judges are from the Bar of Tamil Nadu.

“Even when the advocates staged protest in front of me in the First Bench from the morning to evening, I was peacefully hearing the cases and even on that incident also I never took any contempt. The agitating lawyers themselves wanted to court arrest in connection with that.”

The Chief Justice told Suryaprakasam to advise his colleagues and “Please see what the litigant public feels about them. Some of the people have not read the judgment of Supreme Court. What is the impression you are going to convey to other parts in the Country?

“In my 15-year career, I never initiated contempt against advocates, except in one or two even when I was in Punjab and Haryana high court. Repeated requests were made and appeals were made nothing has happened. Tell me who has taken action on the amended rules past two months. You talk to your colleagues,” CJ said.

Suryaprakasam informed the CJ that even advocates who have cases were not allowed by police and the gates were locked. The Registrar-general informed the Bench that a few advocates who had gathered in MBA and Aavin Gates tried to break the barricades. Hence, the police locked the gates. The situation was normal, the official informed the court.