The Hindu : New Delhi News : Apex court wants issue related to attack on judicial officer resolved

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Saturday, Dec 08, 2007
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Apex court wants issue related to attack on judicial officer resolved

J. Venkatesan

Egmore Bar, judicial officers granted time till January

“Whatever the judicial officer has done, you can’t attack him”
“There are other ways by which an advocate can show dissent”

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday granted time till January to enable the Egmore Bar and judicial officers to arrive at a settlement to defuse the situation arising out of the alleged attack on one a judicial officer by a group of lawyers.

A Bench of Justice P.P. Naolekar and Justice J.M. Panchal adjourned hearing on a special leave petition filed by advocate G. Elangovan against a Madras High Court order declining anticipatory bail.

Senior lawyers U.R. Lalit, P.H. Parekh, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association; Adish C. Aggarwala, president of the All India Bar Association; K. Subramanian, M. Ravindran and counsel S. Prabhakaran appeared for the petitioner.

Justice Naolekar told them, “Whatever the judicial officer has done, you {petitioner} can’t attack him. There are other ways by which an advocate can show his dissent.”

When Mr. Aggarwala said the lawyer concerned had already tendered unconditional apology, Justice Naolekar said, “That will not help.”

Mr. Ravindran and Mr. Subramanian told the Bench that no action had been taken on the complaint preferred by the lawyers against the judicial officer. Mr. Lalit said there were contradictions in the statements made by the judicial officer.

Justice Naolekar told counsel, “In the interest of the Bar you senior members try to resolve the issue and defuse the situation.” Mr. Parekh said, “We will try to amicably settle the issue,” and requested that the matter be adjourned till January. The Bench posted the petition for further hearing in the second week of January.

According to the petitioner, cases were registered against 20 advocates in connection with an incident in the Egmore court on October 31. While 19 of them granted anticipatory bail, his plea was dismissed by the Madras High court on November 15. He prayed for granting him anticipatory bail.

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