Ex-CJM complains to CJI against contempt case

KOCHI: Former Chief Judicial Magistrate and advocate V T Raghunath against whom the Ernakulam Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate had recommended contempt of court proceedings for obstructing court proceedings has filed a complaint before Chief Justice of India and the Acting Chief Justice of Kerala High Court. Additional CJM M Manoj had recommended to the High Court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Raghunath.Raghunath on Tuesday sought a directive to initiate action against the ACJM for abusing him during the course of arguments. He alleged that the magistrate shouted from the chair “you shut your bloody mouth.”This behaviour was unexpected from the magistrate, Raghunath pointed out in his complaint. The ACJM had on Monday asked the Kerala High Court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against advocate V T Raghunath, a former district judge, for obstructing court proceedings.The magistrate had sent a report to the Kerala High Court in this regard after Rahhunath insisted on the court to hear his arguments before other parties on a civil dispute.Reghunath stated in his petition that the contempt action was taken based on the decision of the bench clerk and the prosecutor who were the close allies of the Magistrate.