KOCHI: The war of words between the judges of the Kerala High Court took a new turn on Saturday with Chief Justice Antony Dominic making a veiled attack on Justice Kemal Pasha, who had said that some of the recent decisions in connection with the work allocation in the HC were not right. Speaking at a farewell meeting organised by the High Court staff on the eve of his retirement, Chief Justice Dominic said that he had always acted according to his conscience.
In a brief speech lasting nearly three minutes, he said his elevation to the position of High Court judge and later to the post of chief justice was totally unexpected. He, however, did not directly make any reference to the remarks made by Justice Kemal Pasha in his farewell speech two days ago. But Justice P.N. Raveendran launched an attack against Justice Kemal Pasha without mentioning his name. Certain petty-minded persons were trying to belittle the image of the court due to their craving to remain in the limelight and hog publicity, he said. "The persons who are trying to defame the institutions that have helped them attain their individual status should be exposed," he said.
Justice Raveendran also said that he would speak on the subject in detail during the farewell function scheduled on Monday. Justice Kemal Pasha had launched an attack against the changes introduced in his work allocation after he delivered two verdicts in the cases connected with the murder of Youth Congress activist Shuhaib and the land deal case against Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alenchery. Justice Pasha made the critical remarks in his farewell speech and repeated the same in interviews granted to television channels.
