Kerala HC judge punishes colloquial cops with contempt, forces them to stand & copy Police Act by hand

Friday, 18 December 2015 By Legally India Bar, Bench & Litigation

Kerala high court judge Justice PD Rajan has punished two police constables with contempt for accidentally addressing him colloquially outside of court, ordering them to copy the police manual by hand as punishment while standing in court all day, reported Marunadan Malayali, other Malayalam media, the Indian Express and others.

Rajan had reportedly attending a festival at a temple in civilian clothing - a shirt and a dhoti - and in his private vehicle. Rajan had not identified himself as a judge, according to reports, when a policeman at the event addressed him as ‘chetta’ - the Malayalam equivalent of the Hindi word ‘bhaiya’ or elder brother.

On Monday, Rajan summoned the two constables, KR Raju Nath and Satheesh Babu, to the high court and forced them to write down the “duties and responsibilities” of police officers from the Kerala Police Act.

They stood in court between 10:15 am and 1pm, took a lunch break until 1:45pm and stood until the court wrapped up at 3:15pm.

The court had summoned police commissioner MP Dinesh to investigate the incident, while one of the policemen denied having misbehaved with the judge other than addressing him as ‘chetta’, which Rajan had then asked the policemen not to do.

PD RajancontemptKerala high court

Comments

WTF 18 Dec 2015, 12:11
+21 -1
This is ridiculous. the judge should be made to write the Indian constitution by hand.
Umbridge 18 Dec 2015, 13:30
+7 -0
Ideally with Prof. Umbridge's pen!
anon312 21 Dec 2015, 05:04
+0 -0
believe the media, much?
Unfit 18 Dec 2015, 15:01
+12 -0
Obviously, this 'chetta' was attending the temple festival in his private capacity. Policemen on duty have no business to address him as 'Your Honour' or any such in that context. Those who abuse power are only demonstrating how unfit they are to wield that power correctly. Another unfit joins the hordes.
Confused Zeus Says 18 Dec 2015, 16:01
+5 -3
How were these two constables punished without proper trial?
Baffled Zeus 19 Dec 2015, 06:34
+5 -1
Even if punished by trial which law would have a punishment making them copy the constitution?

This is just atrocious. I am surprised the policemen complied.
A concerned soul 19 Dec 2015, 07:47
+8 -0
Conducts of this very nature exemplify a pressing need to introduce a law regulating the discretionary powers of judges. How on earth was their manner of address worthy of being called "contempt"? The policemen neither addressed the judge disrespectfully (for heaven's sake, they referred to him as "brother"), nor did they say anything which could be construed as casting aspersions on the judge either in his official capacity or even his personal capacity.

The judge acted like a pedantic school-teacher, and his behavior is an affront to common sense and the respect that flows from donning the judicial robe.
FYI 20 Dec 2015, 05:18
+3 -1
An impeachment motion should be introduced against the said judge for misbehaviour. At the very least he should be censured by CJ of HC & CJI and warned not to repeat such arrogant behaviour. In case the said judge does not amend ways, he should not be give any judicial or administrative duties.
Edrich Miranda 20 Dec 2015, 16:25
+0 -3
This is a fit case for action on two fronts, the legislature and the Judiciary. Any member of the Kerala State Assembly, may move a motion, in the house as a private members motion, seeking 1/2 hour discussion on this sordid episode; a calling attention motion can also exercised in public interest; which the Hon'ble Speaker may not be able, abort without adducing sufficient reason for declining; as here the treasury benches are vicariously affected. As about the courts, a writ of Quo warranto can be filed questioning with what authority the Judge punished the police for acts not falling under the definition of contempt ?
kochi lawyer 21 Dec 2015, 02:39
+9 -1
The media report is biased because, it carries the version of one of the police officer in question. The judge hasnt given any public statement. But the inside news -in the court corriders- is that the Judge was abused and taunted inside the temple premises when he asked a constable to call the doctor (the judge's wife) from the clinic near the police post, though police didnt hav a clue that their victim was a high court judge. Next working day the judge summoned both the constables and the commissioner to High Court. Under the new police act 2011, guidelines had been recently issued stipulating rules of good conduct and decent interaction with general public. The judge asked the constables why they wre found wanting in following the guidelines. The reply was ignorance of rules.And oral direction to write imposition followed. The commissioner also assured that proper training to follow the new rules wilk be given to all police officers so dat the impression of police among common people will become better.
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