Madras High Court: The Division Bench of P.N. Prakash and R. Hemalatha, JJ., noted that a video clipping showing the online Court proceedings of one of the brother Judges, in which, a male was found engaged in eroticism with a lady was going viral on social media.
High Court stated that it cannot afford to be a mute spectator and turn a Nelson’s eye when such brazen vulgarity is publicly displayed amidst Court proceedings.
Court took cognizance of the impugned video clipping for initiating suo motu criminal contempt proceedings and issued the following directions:
The Registry shall register a suo motu criminal contempt proceedings based on the impugned video clipping and place the matter before us on the next date of hearing;
- Since the impugned video clipping prima facie discloses the commission of cognizable offences under the Information Technology Act and other penal laws, the CB-CID shall register a suo motu FIR on the impugned video clipping and file a preliminary report before this Court on 23.12.2021 (Thursday) naming the dramatis personae who are found engaged in the vulgar activity;
- The Registry shall preserve the video recordings of the Court proceedings in question;
- The Registrar (I.T.-cum-Statistics) shall coordinate with CB-CID and if required, furnish the impugned video clipping and other evidences in this regard, to the CB-CID;
- The Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai, shall take steps to block the circulation of the impugned video clipping in the social media.
- The Registrar (I.T.-cum-Statistics) shall take steps to liaise with the authorities concerned for removal of the impugned video clipping from the internet.
Lastly, the Court opined that,
it is high time that we revisit the procedure of conducting Court proceedings in hybrid mode, especially in the light of the fact that Advocates, in large numbers, have started appearing in person in our High Court as well in the District Courts.
This matter will be decided by the Chief Justice before whom this matter be placed. [Suo Motu Criminal Contempt Petition No. 1699 of 2021, decided on 21-12-2021]