Lawyers contempt case goes to Division Bench

CHENNAI: The suo-motu contempt proceedings initiated against two HC lawyers for making allegations against the judges and pending before a larger bench consisting of seven judges, was referred to a division bench comprising two judges, on Thursday. An order to this effect was passed by the larger bench comprising Chief Justice MY Eqbal and Justices Elipe Dharma Rao, D Murugesan, C Nagappan, R Banumathi, K Mohanram and P Jyothimani, on Thursday.The charge against advocates T Jaishankar and S Pattabiraman was that they, besides making allegations against 13 judges of the High Court, had also demanded that their cases be not posted before them.Advocates NGR Prasad and R Vaigai, representing the contemnors, submitted that the matter could be referred to a division bench consisting of two judges, rather than being heard by a larger bench consisting of seven judges.The constitution of a larger bench had sent strong waves amongst the advocates community as if the contents of the latters per se amounted to contempt, they added. Accepting the submissions, the larger bench referred the matter to a division bench consisting of two judges and posted it for hearing on April 16.