HIGH COURT OF MADRAS Vs. P. DHARMARAJ

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The genesis of this Suo-Motu Contempt Petition commences from a letter of the Principal District Judge, Madurai, dtd. 3/7/2015, addressed to the Registrar General of the High Court, highlighting the resolutions passed by the Madurai Bar Association dtd. 2/7/2015, in a letter head signed by Mr.P.Dharmaraj and Mr.A.K.Ramasamy, claiming themselves to be the President and Secretary of the Madurai Bar Association respectively. The resolution touches upon a judicial order passed by N.Kirubakaran, J. (as he then was), mandating wearing of helmets by the two-wheeler riders in the State of Tamil Nadu. Some of the resolutions which are relevant to this case reads as follows:-

(2.) The then Hon'ble Chief Justice had made a reference to a Division Bench of this Court, presided over by Mr.Justice S.Tamilvanan and Mr.Justice C.T.Selvam (as they then were), for initiation of suo-motu contempt proceedings.

(3.) On being satisfied with the records before it, the Division Bench had issued statutory notice to the contemnors namely P.Dharmaraj and A.K.Ramasamy on 27/7/2015. On their appearance before the Division Bench on 24/8/2015, copies of the Contempt Petition were served on them. On 16/9/2015, the following questions were put to the second contemnor/A.K.Ramasamy (since the first contemnor/P.Dharmaraj was absent):-