HC pulls up DMK Minister for criticising judges

Chennai, Feb 12 (UNI) The Madras High Court today served an ultimatum to Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy for his alleged criticism of the judiciary and judges in a marriage function.

When the PIL, filed by Traffic Ramasamy, seeking to show cause Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and Mr Veerasamy why they were holding their post came up for hearing, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Mr Justice K Chandru directed Additional Advocate General P S Raman to ascertain the stand of the Minister and inform the court tomorrow.

When the case came up for hearing, the bench made it clear it could not issue the quo warranto as sought. 'We want to know the stand of the Minister. Let us make certain things clear. It may be ill-tempered and uninformed, if it was by an ordinary person. He is a senior Minister holding high position, that too in the presence of Chief Minister. Therefore these deeds are presumed to be intended.

Prima facie we find it tends to scandalise the role of authority of the court'', the bench added.

The bench said 'formally we could have issued notice. But we wish to know the stand of the Minister. Bonafide criticism should be welcomed. In the guise of criticism there cannot be attack on the judiciary,'' the bench added.

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