Judge slams Kerala government for ‘threats’

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair of the Kerala High Court Friday slammed the state government for filing a petition seeking to replace him on the bench that will hear a review petition against the holding of public meetings by the roadside.

Citing that legal procedures maintain that a review petition should be heard by the same judge who pronounced the verdict, Nair asked the government to “stop the threats” against him and said he would “not succumb to such threats”.

Nair said the government’s review petition “means that the government has no concern for the people”.

He said the government has a feeling that judges are fools and asked why the review petition was filed by the additional chief secretary instead of the chief secretary.

The government had filed a petition Friday in the high court seeking the replacement of Nair because he had defended his judgment outside the court.

The government, in its petition, said that a division bench of the Kerala High Court on June 23 prohibited holding of public meetings by the roadside.

The bench, comprising Justice Nair and Justice P.S. Gopinathan, had directed the police, civic bodies, local self-government and revenue departments to refuse permission for holding such meetings.

In its verdict last month, the court said it issued the order to ensure free flow of traffic on public roads and also for the safety of the public.

Coming down heavily on the government, Nair asked if the cabinet had discussed if a review petition should be filed and also if the assembly which is in session had discussed this issue.

Nair told the government that if they were not happy with the verdict, they could come out with a new law.

The hearing will continue next week, when the verdict on the review petition would be given.