Madras High Court proceedings go live for the first time

The division bench heard a case against Bar leaders in a contempt case

For the first time in the history of Madras High Court, the court proceedings was telecast live through large monitors outside the building.

The case was telecasted live from the court of the division bench comprised of Justice S Tamilvanan and Justice C T Selvam.

The proceedings were telecasted in live outside the court through a LED television, since the entry to the Court hall was restricted to a few advocates who are related to the case.

On September 16, when the contempt case was taken up, a section of advocates allegedly created havoc in the premises. As a result the entry was blocked on all corridors near the court hall where the bench heard the case this time.

The division bench was to hear the cases against Bar leaders Dharmaraj and A K Ramasamy.

They were served with with contempt charges in connection with anti-helmet ruling rally taken out by lawyers in Madurai last month. During the last hearing on September 16, despite barricades, three busloads of advocates from Madurai created ruckus on court campus, drawing flak from all quarters.

The court decided to put the matter to a larger bench and left the further decisions on the larger bench to the Chief Justice of Madras High Court.

However, the move to telecast the court proceedings live to the public was unwarranted, said some of the advocates. Barricades, movie camera, television and loudspeakers on court campus are unwarranted, they said. Unlike the last hearing, only a handful of lawyers from Madurai came for the hearing today, they said.