2-mth SI for chairman of child welfare committee of govt home

The chairman of a child welfare committee of a government home for boys in Tamil Nadu was sentenced to two months' simple imprisonment by the Madras High Court today for disobeying its order relating to the restoration of custody of five children back to an orphanage.
Justice M Duraiswamy sentenced Manikandan, chairman of the child welfare committee of the Government Children Home for Boys in Chengalpattu, to two months' simple imprisonment on a petition filed by the Franciscan Sisters of St Joseph, which runs the orphanage.
The judge, however, stayed the operation of the order for two weeks, to enable the contemnor to prefer an appeal against his order.

"In spite of disobeying the orders of this court, he has not even bothered to tender an unconditional apology. If the act of the contemnor is condoned and allowed to go without any punishment, it will set a bad precedence and many will think of flouting court orders, which cannot be permitted," he said.
The judge, on June 7, had directed Manikandan to restore the custody of the children to the orphanage the next day.
The court had said that since the children, in the age group of 9 to 12 years, were brought up by the orphanage right from their childhood, it would not be proper on the part of Manikandan to take their custody all of a sudden.

It was also brought to the court's notice that the children were studying in one of the best schools in the locality.

As Manikandan had not complied with the order, the petitioner had preferred a contempt application.
Allowing the application, Justice Duraiswami held that there was wilful disobedience of the June 6 order by Manikandan.
The contemnor had not only committed contempt, but his conduct proved that he abused the process of court by flouting and disobeying the orders, the judge said.
He then sentenced Manikandan to two months' simple imprisonment and also slapped a fine of Rs 2,000 on him.

The fine amount should be paid within a week. In case of a default, Manikandan would undergo simple imprisonment for 15 more days, the judge said.