'Never before has it fallen to such low levels': SC flays 'mob mentality' of Madras HC lawyers

Judges in the Madras High Court have a “fear psychosis” due to the constant threat that lawyers might enter court rooms shouting slogans, the Supreme Court observed on Monday, lamenting that never before has the situation fallen to “such low levels”. The Supreme Court flayed the “mob mentality” of lawyers of the High Court, who created a ruckus on 16 September when suo motu contempt proceedings against two leaders of the Madurai Bar Association were being heard in-camera. Reacting to the apex court’s strongly-worded remarks, Law Minister DV Sadananda Gowda met Chief Justice of India HL Dattu on Monday and discussed the matter, The Hindu reported. [caption id=“attachment_2441896” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Image courtesy: AFP[/caption] “Judges in Madras HC sit in courts with a fear psychosis. There is always a threat that at any time, lawyers shouting slogans will enter the courtroom,” the Supreme Court said. “It was once a traditional court that we all looked up to. Never before has it fallen to such low levels. I have had a long conversation with the Madras HC Chief Justice day before yesterday,” Chief Justice Dattu said. The CJI, who was heading the bench along with Justice Amitava Roy, also flayed the lawyers associations of Tamil Nadu and Bar Council of India, apex body of advocates in the country, for their inaction.“In Madras, there are three strong lawyers associations. What do they do when mobs enter courtrooms with wives and children and shout slogans?,” the CJI remarked. “You people take your wives and children and demand that Tamil should be the language of the court. What will the Chief Justice do?” an anguished bench said when an advocate from Chennai sought the indulgence of the bench to hear him. The CJI said that he has not seen such situations in courts since 1975. The observations came after senior advocate KK Venugopal, appearing for the High Court registry, apprised the bench of the recent chaotic scenes when a group of around 100 advocates created ruckus after a division bench initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against two advocates of Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. According to a report in The Times of India, Venugopal told the court that lawyers were entering the chambers of judges and filing frivolous complaints against them. He was quoted as saying that it is “time we protect the judges.” “Lawyers form different groups based on caste. They take processions in court halls and chambers with wives and children. They enter judges chambers,” Venugopal said and suggested that the apex court send three Supreme Court judges to the High Court to probe the matter. To this, the CJI said, “Let’s give the HC Chief Justice some time. Sending judges from here will create unnecessary problems.” With inputs from PTI