SC holds advocate guilty of contempt of court, says he deserves severe punishment

The Supreme Court on Tuesday held advocate Mathews J Nedumpara guilty of contempt for taking a senior lawyer's name to allege that sons and daughters of judges were given priority in awarding 'senior advocate' designation, saying that he has attempted to browbeat the courts and his conduct deserves severe punishment.

While dismissing a plea filed by Nedumpara's organisation challenging the method of designation of senior advocates, a bench comprising justices Rohinton Fali Nariman and Vineet Saran issued notice to the lawyer on the punishment to be imposed on him for committing contempt of court and sought his response within two weeks
"Even otherwise, it is settled law that an Article 32 petition does not lie against the judgment of this Court. We are also of the view that Section 16(2) of the Advocates Act, 1961 is a provision which cannot be said to be unconstitutional and the designation of senior advocate cannot be as a matter of bounty or as a matter of right."