CHENNAI:Proceedings of the Madras High Court were on Wednesday beamed live when a contempt case against two Madurai-based Bar leaders was taken up in connection with the anti-helmet rally taken out by lawyers there in August.
Numerous barricades and hundreds of policemen sealed even the corridors leading to Court Hall No 4, where the bench, consisting of justices C T Selvam and S Tamilvanan, conducted the contempt proceedings. Even reporters were not allowed. Only the contemnors, two advocates for each of them, court staff, police officers and personnel of intelligence agencies were allowed inside the court hall. Ramasamy did not appear in court citing health reasons.
However, unlike September 16, there were no attempts by the advocates to forcefully enter the court hall or raise slogans.
During the hearing, the bench posed specific questions to Dharmaraj and asked if he agrees with the resolutions of the Madurai Bar Association, which had criticised a HC order on seizing two-wheelers, if the riders were not wearing helmets. Dharmaraj replied that he signed the resolution since he was the association president and it was not his personal opinion. “If the lawyers are aggrieved by the court order, they must have appealed against it,” bench noted.
However, the judges differed among themselves on whether the contempt proceedings must be referred to a larger bench. As the judges differed, the case would be referred to a larger bench.