Kerala - Kochi   

Sanction sought for contempt plea

Staff Reporter

Chief Minister's statement

Kochi: A petition has been filed before the Advocate-General, seeking sanction to file a contempt of court petition against Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan for "making contemptuous statements against the court directive for installing speed governors."

In the petition, Madhavan Kutty of Aluva said the directive for installing speed governor was confirmed by the Supreme Court. Though the Supreme Court had given reasonable time to comply with it, the Government was not able to take steps to implement it. A contempt petition was filed before the Supreme Court. The Government was not inclined to implement the directive and the only intention was to favour stage carriage operators and heavy vehicle owners.

Allegation

At a press conference held on October 31, the Chief Minister intentionally used several words questioning the integrity and fairness of the court, the petitioner alleged. Mr. Achuthanandan undermined the confidence of the public in the court of law as court of justice, the petitioner submitted.

The petitioner alleged that the Chief Minister had stated at the press conference that the court had rendered the judgment only to help factory owners who were producing speed governors.

Seeks sanction

The petitioner said the comment was not fair criticism. The statement tended to create an impression in the minds of people about the integrity, ability and fairness of the judge. The Chief Minster, being a responsible public servant and the head of the council of Ministers, was constitutionally bound to uphold the rule of law. The judiciary, being one of the pillars of democracy, should not have been attacked by the Chief Minister. The petitioner sought sanction under Section 15(1)(b) of the Contempt of Court Act 1971 to initiate criminal contempt against Mr. Achuthanandan before the High Court.

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