Lawyer wants panel to probe 'derogatory' remarks against judge

An advocate today urged the Madras High Court to constitute a committee to look into alleged 'derogatory' remarks made against Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and other judges by a disqualified Tamil Nadu MLA following the recent split verdict on pleas by him and 17 others challenging their disqualification.

Making a special mention before Justice N Kirubakaran, advocate A P Suryaprakasam said he had already written to the Chief Justice seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against Thanga Tamilselvan, a loyalist of sidelined AIADMK leader T T V Dhinakaran, who is among the 18 MLAs disqualified by the state assembly speaker last year.

He alleged that Tamilselvan was "spewing venom" on the judiciary, particularly the chief justice, in his reaction to the split verdict on TV debates and other media.

The advocate wanted a committee to be set up to go into such comments.

Justice Kirubakaran said advocates, who participate in debates, themselves were making comments against the judges and the judiciary.

"If this is not prevented then it would amount to suicide of the judiciary," the judge said, adding he would take the matter to the knowledge of the Chief Justice.

The chief justice had upheld the September 18 last order of Speaker P Dhanapal disqualifying the 18 MLAs, while Justice M Sundar disagreed with her and struck it down.

Justice Kirubakaran, sitting along with Justice R Pongiappan in a division bench, had on June 19 slammed authorities for not taking action against those who posted comments against the Chief Justice on social media sites over the split verdict.

"If such comments were posted against chief minister, ministers of the state or against higher official you may have immediately suo motu taken action," he told the Additional Advocate General during the hearing of a petition related to another matter.