Contempt issue: HC says Kerala Minister owes public apology

The Kerala High Court today observed that state Culture Minister K C Joseph owes an apology to the public for making contemptuous comment against one of its judges.
When the contempt petition filed by CPI-M MLA V Sivankutty came up for hearing, a division bench comprising justices Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and Sunil Thomas directed the minister to be present before the court on March 10 at 12.30 pm and adjourned the matter till then.
Joseph was present in the court today following its directive on February 16. The petitioner was also present.
In his petition, Sivankutty alleged that the minister had committed criminal contempt by making derogatory remarks against Justice Alexander Thomas who had criticised the style of functioning of the Advocate General's office.

The minister had made the remarks in a Facebook post last July while reacting to the judge's observations.
The court today was of the opinion that there has to be an expression of apology to the public.

Even though the minister expressed his willingness to tender apology through Facebook, the court asked does it erase the impression created by him in the minds of common man about judiciary.
Joseph today filed another affidavit tendering an unconditional apology stating that the offensive Facebook post against the judge was removed immediately.
The court was not satisfied with it. The bench, however, granted the minister time to do further amendments in the affidavit.

The bench also said a contemner can tender apology only if he admits committing contempt.
In his earlier affidavit, Joseph had said the expressions used by him in the Facebook post were not intended to make any slanderous remarks against the judicial system or cause insinuation against a particular judge or to the system as a whole.