Kochi: Kerala High Court on Tuesday asked Cultural Affairs Minister K.C. Joseph to make a public apology in the contempt of court proceedings initiated against him for making derogatory remarks against a sitting judge of the court.
A division bench comprising Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice Sunil Thomas orally observed that the alleged statement scandalising the court warrants a public apology. The court initiated action based on a complaint by CPM leader Sivankutty, MLA.
Both Mr Joseph and the complainant appeared in the court in person. The minister filed a fresh affidavit tendering an unconditional apology. However, advocate P. Udayabhanu appearing for Mr Sivankutty argued that though the minister apologised, he had not admitted the guilt.
The court accepted the views put forward by Mr Udayabhanu and observed that the minister had made a public statement and the same was etched in the minds of the public.
So he should make an apology before the public not as an affidavit before the court. It also wondered, “how many persons will come to know about an affidavit before the court?”
Senior counsel S. Sreekumar appearing for Mr Joseph informed the court that his client was ready to make an apology on Facebook where he had initially put a post which resulted in the contempt of court proceedings.
The amicus curie appointed by the court, Mr P.B. Krishnan, pointed out that it was for the minister to decide the medium he wants to apologise. The court also left it open to the minister to choose the medium to apologise.
The court posted the hearing to March 10 and asked the minister to appear in person before the court. Mr Sivankutty submitted that there must be something on record.
