In an unfortunate incident, the Kerala Police has registered an FIR against twelve Lawyers for allegedly gheraoing a lady Judge in her own chamber.
The arrestee includes members of the Trivandrum Bar Association.
Taking action in the wake of the incident, the Kerala Judicial Officers Association has reportedly sought the interference of the High Court in the matter.
Checking with the background of the incident, the particular incident that led to the alleged gheraoing was an irregular court proceeding that was adopted by the Judicial Magistrate Deepa Mohan.
According to reports, it was alleged that she had cancelled the bail bond of an accused in a Motor Vehicle accident case.
Not happy with the decision, Trivandrum Bar Association (TBA) President KP Jayachandran and Secretary Pachalloor Jayakrishnan, along with the certain other Lawyers, went inside the Magistrate’s Chambers. It was alleged that Mohan was locked in her Chambers for about one hour.
Though Trivandrum Bar Association President, Jayakrishnan had translated the incident as below:
Following the incident and their objection on the decision, the Bar Association had also called for a boycott of Magistrate Mohan's Court after she cancelled the bail bond of the accused.
Jayakrishnan accused Magistrate of "inexperience" and went onto add,
In spite of Jayakrishnan's objections, the Chief Judicial Magistrate forwarded Magistrate Mohan's written complaint to the Police. The twelve Lawyers have subsequently been booked under Section 353 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with assault to deter a Public Servant from the discharge of her duty. Also among the charges are those pertaining to unlawful assembly, rioting, criminal intimidation, and wrongful confinement.
With events taking an odd turn and as per the latest update, the Kerala Bar Council has issued a notice dated Nov 30, asking Judicial Magistrate Deepa Mohan to respond to a complaint that she didn't suspend her legal practise when she joined the judicial service, contrary to the provisions of the Advocates' Act, 1961 and its Rules.
The Bar Council notice also confirms that there are Council records lending credence to the allegation.
Thus, the Bar Council has granted one week's time to Magistrate Mohan to respond with her remarks.
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