MLA Tamilselvan tenders unconditional apology for adverse remarks against Madras HC judges

MLA Thanga Tamilselvan has tendered an unconditional apology before Advocate General Vijay Narayan, for having made adverse remarks against Madras High Court judges in view of the split verdict in the 18 MLA Disqualification case..Tamilselvan is one of the 18 disqualified AIADMK MLAs whose fate hangs in the balance, awaiting the verdict to be pronounced by Justice M Sathyanarayanan, the third judge called on to decide on the validity of the disqualification..The apology presented on Tuesday comes in response to contempt proceedings initiated against Tamilselvan by at least two lawyers, V Srimathi and B Kannan, under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act. This provision mandates the sanction of the AG before the contempt case is brought before a Bench of the High Court..In response to the contempt petitions, the AG had issued show cause notice to Tamilselvan, asking him why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him for his remarks..However, Tamilselvan was informed that the apology is not enough to halt the contempt proceedings at this stage. After allowing time to file a counter in the matter, Tamilselvan has been asked to appear before the AG on August 29..The controversial remarks in question were made by Tamilselvan during interviews with Thanthi TV, during which he allegedly expressed that he had lost faith in the judiciary after the split verdict. Among other objectionable remarks, he is reported to have said that the judgment was purchased rather than decided..These remarks, in turn, prompted critical reactions from both the bar and the bench. Apart from the contempt petitions pending before the AG, a mention of the matter has also been made by Advocate AP Suryaprakasam before Justice N Kirubakaran in the High Court..Earlier Justice Kirubakaran had also expressed his disapproval for those firing from the shoulders of the judiciary, in the backdrop of such critical comments being leveled against the Chief Justice.