Kerala High Court Lawyers Protest Judge's Remarks Against Female Attorney
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Lawyers at the Kerala High Court protested against Justice Badharudeen's disrespectful comments towards a female lawyer, demanding an open apology. The incident escalated to a boycott of the judge's court and discussions with the Chief Justice seeking resolution.
Key Takeaways
- Lawyers protested against disrespectful remarks.
- Justice Badharudeen faced criticism for his behavior.
- Lawyers demanded a public apology.
- Boycott of the judge's court was initiated.
- Chief Justice will mediate the situation.
Kochi, March 7 (NationPress) Lawyers at the Kerala High Court on Friday voiced their strong objections to the ''curt'' comments made by a judge towards a female attorney and demanded a public apology.
This incident, which occurred on Thursday, prompted senior lawyers to convene an emergency meeting of the Kerala High Court Advocates' Association (KHCAA) where a resolution was adopted.
The event unfolded on March 6, when attorney Saritha Thomas requested additional time to modify her vakalath due to the passing of her husband, Alex Scaria, in January of this year.
The Association's meeting indicated that Justice A. Badharudeen responded to the lawyer's plea in a discourteous manner.
He notably questioned her, ''Who is Alex Scaria?''
The lawyers emphasized that such behavior is not only inappropriate for the Bench but also shows a lack of respect towards the deceased Scaria, thus necessitating an apology from Justice Badharudeen.
On Friday, the KHCAA convened an urgent general body meeting and opted to seek a public apology from Justice Badharudeen.
When this effort was unsuccessful, the disgruntled lawyers resolved to boycott Justice Badharudeen's court.
Subsequently, the lawyers approached Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar, who assured them that he would discuss the matter with Justice Badharudeen over the weekend in hopes of finding a satisfactory resolution.
Notably, this is not the first instance where lawyers have raised concerns regarding Justice Badharudeen's behavior in court.
In February of last year, the KHCAA and the Bar Council of Kerala addressed a letter to the Chief Justice alleging that the judge's interactions with the Bar were demeaning and uncaring.
To prevent such unacceptable conduct, the KHCAA also urged the Chief Justice to implement mandatory video recordings of proceedings in all courtrooms.
