The Kerala High Court on Monday indicated that it will initiate criminal contempt proceedings against former CPI(M) legislator R. Rajesh for allegedly making a derogatory Facebook post targeting a sitting judge of the Court.
Justice D.K. Singh, who is currently presiding over multiple related writ matters, expressed strong displeasure at the contents of the post, describing it as “stinking” and aimed at tarnishing the dignity of the judiciary. The development occurred while the judge was hearing a writ petition filed by the Registrar of Kerala University challenging his suspension by the Vice-Chancellor.
The Court orally noted that R. Rajesh, who is a member of the University Syndicate, had made the post in question after his own writ petition was reserved for judgment. “Today, he will face the consequences. A person who is a litigant before me has written a Facebook post… His writ petition has been reserved for judgment. He has guts to write a Facebook post against me,” Justice Singh remarked.
The judge further stated that the post amounted to an attempt to pressure the Court. “He wants to put pressure on me—over my grave only he can put pressure on me. It is not a reputation which is built over a day… I am not deterred by anyone. I have not become a judge to be cowed down and to be pressurised,” the judge said orally in court.
Justice Singh made it clear that contempt of court charges would be framed against the former legislator immediately. The Court observed that such conduct by a litigant undermines judicial independence and threatens the integrity of the institution.
