Lawyers Ordered to Offer Six Months of Free Legal Aid After Disrupting Kottayam Magistrate’s Court
The Kerala High Court has conditionally accepted the apologies of 28 lawyers involved in a disruptive incident at the Kottayam Magistrate’s court, where they had shouted abusive slogans at the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) last year. The court has mandated that these lawyers provide free legal services as a remedy for their contemptuous behavior.
The controversy began when a group of approximately 200 lawyers entered the courtroom of CJM Viveeja Sethumohan on November 23, 2023. They protested vocally against the judge’s conduct and the registration of a forgery case against a fellow lawyer, Advocate MP Navab. The disruptive actions included halting court proceedings, and the protest was recorded and widely disseminated on WhatsApp.
Following the incident, the Kerala High Court initiated contempt proceedings against 29 lawyers. While 28 of them offered unconditional apologies, Justices PB Suresh Kumar and C Pratheep Kumar determined that an apology alone was insufficient for addressing the gravity of the contempt. The Court deemed it necessary for the lawyers to engage in a corrective measure to atone for their actions.
The Court proposed that the 28 lawyers contribute to society by providing free legal aid to the poor and needy through the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Kottayam. The lawyers agreed to this condition, provided it did not impede their right to continue practicing law. Consequently, the Court ordered them to serve the DLSA for six months.
The Court’s order stipulates that the Secretary of the DLSA is to assign legal aid work to the lawyers, monitor their progress, and report back to the Court at the end of the six-month period. The order clarifies that this requirement does not affect their right to continue their legal practice or pursue other career opportunities.
The incident had begun with protests over the criminal case filed against Advocate Navab and escalated into a larger disruption, including interference with court proceedings and police intervention. The Kerala High Court, after reviewing the case, decided that the lawyers’ apologies would be accepted only if they fulfilled the condition of providing pro bono legal services.
(With inputs from agency)
Share your news, articles, deals, columns, or press releases with us! Click the link to submit and join our platform today.
