HC sentences man to simple imprisonment for one week

The Madras High Court today sentenced to simple imprisonment for one week a man who declared himself as an advocate and threatened the High Court- appointed Advocate Commissioner for seizing a vehicle.
Justice M.Duraiswamy, who initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against one Senthil Prabhu, also imposed a fine of Rs.2000 to be paid within three days from today and said if the contemnor failed to pay the fine, he has to undergo the imprisonment for another period of three days.
According to the report filed by the Advocate Commissioner, when she visited the house of Senthil Prabhu with the warrant for seizing the vehicle, he behaved rudely and said it met with an accident and was lying somewhere near Siruseri and asked her to go there. Despite revealing that she was the Advocate Commissioner, Senthil Prabhu claimed himself to be an advocate and that he knew law, she submitted.

The Advocate Commissioner also submitted that in the meantime, two men, one of whom identified himself as the local councillor of that area, started abusing and shouting at her and she immediately left the place.
Taking a serious view of the incident, the court issued a notice to the persons involved asking why contempt proceedings should not be initiated. A notice was issued for personal appearance of Senthil Prabhu and another person Nandagopalan Ekambaram but when they failed to appear a warrant of arrest was issued on April 29. When the matter was adjourned to July 17, Additional Public Prosecutor Maharajan with police produced Senthil Prabhu and Nandagopalan Ekambaram who sought an adjournment for filing affidavit to today.

Senthil Prabhu filed an affidavit in which no mention was made of the incident and no apology tendered. The Advocate Commissioner submitted Ekambaram was not involved in the incident.
Taking a serious view of Senthil Prabhu's behaviour, the judge said the Advocate Commissioner is an officer of this Court and should be treated in a dignified manner. "If this type of conduct is allowed to continue, it would be detrimental to the dignity of this court and also the advocate community. The illegal and the unlawful act of the contemnor Senthil Prabhu cannot be condoned."
The court said "any insult or threat made to the Advocate Commissioner is a threat made to this Court." It is very clear that Senthil Prabhu had disrespected the court orders by threatening the Advocate Commissioner and throwing the warrant of commission on the floor, the judge said, holding that he was guilty of contempt and liable to be punished under the contempt of Courts Act 1971.