Contempt proceedings ordered against Kerala CPI-M leader

KOCHI - The Kerala High Court Tuesday ordered contempt proceedings against senior Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader M.V. Jayarajan for his outburst against judges in July.

A three-member full bench comprising Chief Justice J. Chelameswar, Justice A.K. Basheer and Justice K.M. Joseph ordered this while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL).

Jayarajan, 50, while speaking at a public meeting in July, criticised high court judges for ruling that no public meetings should be held on roads.

The court Tuesday was hearing a PIL filed by P. Rahim demanding contempt proceedings against the CPI-M leader for his outburst against judges.

The court said that contempt proceedings will begin against Jayarajan and its order should be seen as a notice to him.

Jayarajan, who hails from Kannur, is a two-time legislator of the CPI-M.

The bench also said that this case would now be taken up in a division bench headed by Chief Justice Chelameswar.

Reacting to court’ ruling Tuesday, Jayarajan said that he is yet to get any notice to this effect.

“Once I get the notice, I will also seek legal advice and face the situation. All what I said was that I stand for the common man and his right to move freely on roads and also hold meetings which do not affect free movement of people,” said Jayarajan.

In July, top CPI-M leaders verbally attacked high judges on more than one occasion.

A division bench headed by the chief justice took strong exception to this and said that criticizing judgments was understandable but attacking judges personally did not augur well for democracy.