HC exempts MPs from appearance in contempt case

Chennai, June 20 (UNI) The Madras High Court today dispensed with the personal appearance of 12 AIADMK MPs, against whom notices were issued by the Advocate General, in connection with the initiation of contempt proceedings.

A Division Bench comprising Justice P K Misra and Justice R Banumathi, who dispensed with the personal appearance of the MPs, posted to July 2 further hearing of the petition filed by AIADMK MP N Jyothi, seeking to quash the notice dated June 6, 2007 issued by the Advocate General R Viduthalai.

In its order, the Bench said, it was necessary to hear the Advocate General as in the petition three questions were referred to be answered by the Bench. Copies of the petition shall be served to Advocate General.

Having regard to the submissions made by the petitioner and Counsel for Ullasavelan, who originally presented a petition to Advocate General for his consent to initiate contempt proceedings, it was observed that personal appearance of the petitioner and other MPs to whom the notices were said to have been issued before Advocate General was dispensed with.

Without prejudice to the contentions raised in the petition, it was open to the petitioner and other MPs to whom the notices were said to have been issued, to file their reply before Advocate General either in person or through advocate or by any other method.

It was made clear that any order passed by the Advocate General would be subject to the result of the petition, the Bench added.

Originally, Advocate Ullasavelan presented a petition to Advocate General for his consent to initiate contempt proceedings against the MPs, for allegedly casting aspersions on a particular judge in their representation dated May 2, 2007 given to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption. Following this the Advocate General issued notices, returnable by June 20, to the MPs. The present petition was filed challenging this notice.

UNI