Lissy Priyadarshan asked to appear before Ker HC on Nov 16

Justice B P Ray issued the direction on a contempt plea filed by N D Varkey, who claims to be Lissy's father.

The judge rejected the plea of Lissy's counsel that the media was "harassing" her and that was the reason for her non-appearance.

Justice Ray ordered Lissy's presence, terming as "unbecoming" her failure to appear before it earlier to respond to the contempt's plea.

The court observed that she had not been properly advised and granted her another opportunity to appear on Friday.

Lissy, a former Malayalam actress, had been asked by the court first to appear on November 12 which was later adjourned to today. But she failed to appear today too.

Her counsel submitted that she had remitted Rs 1.15 lakh to a district collector as directed towards the arrears of compensation to Varkey. The court directed the collector to disburse the amount to the petitioner.

Lissy had remitted the amount on November 6 through her counsel to the collector who is the appellate tribunal under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act.

Justice Ray had earlier dispensed with the personal appearance of Ernakulam District collector, P A Sheik Pareeth, who is the second respondent in the case.

Lissy maintained that she has not violated the court's order and had not committed contempt.

According to her, she has no knowledge of Varkey except that he had filed the case against her. She said she and her mother had lived for years without any help from him. She said her baptism and SSLC certificates and Passport would show that his claims were not valid.

Earlier, Justice Ray had opined that parties have committed prima facie contempt and directed to showcause why suitable punishment should not be ordered.

The sub-divisional magistrate had directed Lissy to pay a monthly maintenance of Rs 4,500 and Rs 1,000 for Varkey's medical needs. This was challenged by Lissy by filing a review petition before the collector. The petitioner then approached the court which directed Lissy to pay maintenance.

When she failed to comply with the order, the contempt petition was filed.