ADV. THUSHAR NIRMAL SARATHY Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is a writ petition filed by a lawyer stating that he was denied permission by respondent No-3 to get Vakalath, writ petition and affidavit signed by his client, who is a convicted prisoner undergoing life imprisonment at Central Prison, Poojappura.

(2.) I am astonished to see the pleadings in this writ petition and the grievance of the lawyer. A lawyer is forced to approach this Court to obtain the signature of his client convicted in a criminal case and who is lodged at Central Prison. Usually, it is said that the Bench and Bar are the two sides of the same Coin. On some occasions, the lawyer is part of the judiciary itself. Lawyers are not only helping their clients but are also assisting the Court to arrive at the right conclusion in a lis. Therefore, the lawyers are officers of the Court. When a lawyer is going to prison to meet his client, it is the duty of the officers of the jail to give respect to the lawyer and allow him to do his official/professional duty without any delay. If any unnecessary delay is caused to a lawyer in meeting a client in jail or if there is any unnecessary detention of a lawyer at the gate of a jail, who approaches a prison after taking appointment to meet his client in connection with his professional duties, this Court will take it very seriously in the future.

(3.) When this writ petition came up for consideration on 9/6/2023, this Court issued the following direction: