The Madras High Court on Wednesday issued a statutory notice to Tamil poet and lyricist R. Vairamuthu on a petition moved by a film financier seeking to initiate suo motu contempt against the poet for his recent public speech, allegedly undermining the dignity and integrity of the judges of the High Court.
A Division Bench, comprising Justice Satish K. Agnihotri and Justice K.K. Sasidharan, also issued notice to the Office of the Advocate General.
The petitioner, S. Mukanchand Bothra, submitted that on September 12 on the eve of late Justice P.S. Kailasm’s Centenary celebrations, organised at Vidyodaya Auditorium, T. Nagar, Chennai, Mr. Vairamuthu delivered a speech in the presence of Chief Justice of Madras High Court S.K. Kaul, actor Rajinikanth and other dignitaries, including former union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram. “In his speech, he created doubt about the faith, integrity and purity of the judges among the public, especially about those who are on the eve of retirement. The impression one gets from such a statement is that all the judges are corrupt towards the end of their term,” Mr. Bothra alleged.
