Recently, lawyers practicing before the Kerala High Court staged a protest demanding a public apology from Justice A Badharudeen over his alleged remarks to a bereaved advocate. The controversy arose when the advocate sought additional time to change vakalatnama after her husband's passing, but the request was reportedly met with an uncharitable response, sparking widespread discontent within the legal fraternity.
The controversy stemmed from an incident on March 6, when an advocate appearing before Justice Badharudeen requested an extension to modify vakalatnama, citing the recent demise of her husband in January. The request was reportedly met with an uncharitable response, prompting discontent among members of the legal fraternity.
Senior Advocate George Poonthottam, along with several other practitioners, initiated a resolution urging the Kerala High Court Advocates' Association (KHCAA) to convene an urgent general body meeting. The resolution highlighted concerns over judicial decorum, asserting that the response to the lawyer’s plea was disrespectful and warranted redressal.
During the general body meeting convened by KHCAA at 10 AM, lawyers resolved to collectively appear before Justice Badharudeen's court to demand a public apology. However, no such apology was issued in open court. Reports suggest that the KHCAA President, Yeshwanth Shenoy, and other members rejected an offer for a private apology within chambers, insisting on a formal acknowledgment in open court.
Subsequently, the lawyers decided to boycott Justice Badharudeen’s court. Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar was apprised of the grievances and assured the advocates that he would discuss the matter with Justice Badharudeen over the weekend to explore a resolution.
This is not the first instance of concerns being raised regarding courtroom interactions involving Justice Badharudeen. In February of the previous year, KHCAA and the Bar Council of Kerala had written to the Chief Justice, citing instances where the judge’s conduct towards advocates was perceived as humiliating and insensitive. A particular case involving Advocate Jayakumar Namboodiri TV was noted, where an adjournment was denied despite his medical condition.
In light of repeated concerns over judicial conduct, the KHCAA has previously advocated for the mandatory video recording of all courtroom proceedings to ensure transparency and accountability. Additionally, concerns have been raised by several lawyers regarding similar experiences in court proceedings.
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