Madras High Court: The Single Judge Bench of M.S. Ramesh, J., took notice of the ruckus caused by Mr. C. Nagarajan, Deputy Secretary, law department (Secretary) during short recess and ordered the State’s Principal Secretary to initiate disciplinary action against him, placing him under suspension from service.
The Secretary raised his voice, used unparliamentary words and created a ruckus against the Government pleaders, in the presence of other Court officers, Court staff and lawyers, while performing his duty to instruct the Government pleaders. The proceedings were also recorded on CCTV, and he continued his misbehavior in the corridors outside the Court Hall, which itself was witnessed by many lawyers.
The Court said that Secretary’s “behavior amounts to scandalizing and lowering the authority of the Madras High Court, as well as interfering and obstructing with the administration of justice”.
The Court suo-motu impleaded the State’s Principal Secretary as a party respondent, being the Principal Secretary, law department, Tamil Nadu.
Further, the Court directed the Principal Secretary to initiate disciplinary action against Mr. C. Nagarajan, by placing him immediately under suspension from service, The Court will take the further course of action, as to whether it will proceed for criminal contempt, on 31-03-2023
[J. Damodaran v. Kakarla Usha IAS, 2023 SCC OnLine Mad 1896, decided on: 24-03-2023]
*Order by: Justice M.S. Ramesh
