Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (RJP)

Bangalore, Oct 27: The High Court of Karnataka has initiated suo motu criminal contempt proceedings against a lawyer for issuing legal notice to a judge.

Mahaswamyavaru, a lawyer from Tumkur had issued a notice to the principal civil judge and JMFC, Gubbi, asking him why criminal proceedings should not be initiated against him for being ‘discriminative.’ He had said in the notice that he was not given sufficient time and dates for his cases despite stating that he had cases in other courts. The advocate also said that he belonged to a scheduled caste and argued cases only in Kannada while the judge conducted the court proceedings in English.

The notice dated February 22, 2014, had warned the judge of initiating civil, criminal and writ proceedings before the High Court against him if he did not respond in three days.

The principal civil judge made a complaint to the district judge who in turn forwarded the matter to the High Court.

The judge said in his complaint that the lawyer had no right to issue legal notice to a judge. The complaint also said that the lawyer dragged the matter by filing applications one after the other.

The Chief Justice has now ordered to take up a suo motu criminal contempt proceedings against the lawyer.