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Kerala's Left Democratic Front government on Monday said a case would be registered against Congress MP K. Sudhakaran for his “anti-judiciary remarks,” while his party distanced itself from the controversial statement.
Home Minister and senior CPI(M) leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said a case would be registered in connection with Mr. Sudhakaran's speech. The MP said at Kottarakkara in Kollam district on Saturday that he was witness to a Supreme Court judge receiving Rs. 36 lakh as a consideration for nullifying a High Court verdict cancelling a bar licence.
Since the comment amounted to discrediting the judiciary as a whole, the MP should specify the details of his allegation and that he had a moral obligation to reveal the judge's identity, the Minister said. “We are seeing this as a serious problem. He has levelled these allegations against a Supreme Court judge.”
PCC president Ramesh Chennithala told journalists that the Congress always held the judiciary in high esteem and felt that a strong judiciary was essential for a healthy democracy. “We always respect court verdicts. There were instances of political parties expressing reservations about court orders. However, this was not done with the intention of maligning the judiciary,” he said.
Asked if there would be disciplinary action against the MP, Mr. Chennithala said he would speak to Mr. Sudhakaran and find out what prompted him to make such a speech.
Virtually disapproving of Mr. Sudhakaran's remarks, Opposition leader and former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said there should not be any attempt from any quarter to question the judiciary's credibility.
The former Chief Justice of India, Justice V.N. Khare, said the allegations were ridiculous, but should be probed and if not proved, Mr. Sudhakaran should face legal proceedings.
Home Minister and senior CPI(M) leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said a case would be registered in connection with Mr. Sudhakaran's speech. The MP said at Kottarakkara in Kollam district on Saturday that he was witness to a Supreme Court judge receiving Rs. 36 lakh as a consideration for nullifying a High Court verdict cancelling a bar licence.
Since the comment amounted to discrediting the judiciary as a whole, the MP should specify the details of his allegation and that he had a moral obligation to reveal the judge's identity, the Minister said. “We are seeing this as a serious problem. He has levelled these allegations against a Supreme Court judge.”
PCC president Ramesh Chennithala told journalists that the Congress always held the judiciary in high esteem and felt that a strong judiciary was essential for a healthy democracy. “We always respect court verdicts. There were instances of political parties expressing reservations about court orders. However, this was not done with the intention of maligning the judiciary,” he said.
Asked if there would be disciplinary action against the MP, Mr. Chennithala said he would speak to Mr. Sudhakaran and find out what prompted him to make such a speech.
Virtually disapproving of Mr. Sudhakaran's remarks, Opposition leader and former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said there should not be any attempt from any quarter to question the judiciary's credibility.
The former Chief Justice of India, Justice V.N. Khare, said the allegations were ridiculous, but should be probed and if not proved, Mr. Sudhakaran should face legal proceedings.