Judge Chastises Lawyers for Stir Inside Courtroom

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  Advocates staging a protest on the premises of the Madras High Court demanding that the judges’ appointment list be recalled, on Wednesday | Express

By Express News Service - CHENNAI

Published: 09th January 2014 07:44 AM

Last Updated: 09th January 2014 07:44 Am

Boycotting advocates at the Madras High Court were told on Wednesday by Justice V Dhanapalan that shouting inside the court halls was not acceptable.

When the PIL against the recent list of 12 candidates for the post of additional judges came for hearing on Wednesday, advocates in the court hall eight had to face a visibly displeased Justice Dhanapalan.

Before the arguments could begin, the judge recalled incidents that transpired in the morning. Justice Dhanapalan was calling matters to adjourn them due to absence of lawyers who were involved in a boycott.

However, a group of advocates, he said, entered his court and began to shout. They then proceeded to exhibit placards inside the court.  Justice Dhanapalan said the legal community talked about discipline from others, it should also display it.  “When we are talking about discipline...we must have discipline for ourselves,” the judge noted.

 Recalling a 1983 incident, the judge said that he, along with several doyens of the bar, including the current Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram, took out a procession from Parrys to Raj Bhavan on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue.

“There was no median at that time but we proceeded in an orderly manner without affecting the traffic,” he recalled.

However, while he was making his comments, an agitated lawyer confronted the judge with his own statements making a mention of the February 19, 2009 clash between the police and lawyers. The lawyer then left the hall following which the case hearing began.