Kerala High Court initiates suo motu case to address police violence against lawyers

The Kerala High Court has initiated a suo motu case to address instances of police violence against lawyers in the State. .This development came about after an advocate was allegedly attacked by police officials while in the premises of a court in Alappuzha.A day after the incident, the Kerala High Court Advocates' Association (KHCAA) had written to Acting Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque seeking appropriate action. The letter was also handed over to a Division Bench of Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Syam Kumar VM who opined that the matter needs serious consideration especially since the incident took place within the premises of a court. The Bench observed that such instances of lawyers being assaulted by police officers seem to be on the rise. Consequently, it directed the initiation of a suo motu case with the approval of the acting Chief Justice.The Bench said that it would issue guidelines that police authorities would have to adhere to while interacting with lawyers, judges and staff members of courts across the State. .According to the letter handed over to the Bench by the KHCAA, advocate Gopakumar Pandavath was attacked by the police within the premises of the Ramankary Magistrate Court in Alappuzha on September 9.The lawyer was taken to the hospital to be treated after the attack. The hospital authorities informed the police of the incident but allegedly no police officer visited him at the hospital. However, Pandavath was allegedly contacted by the station house officer of the Pulicunnu police station over the phone.While the Alappuzha Bar Association is in the process of filing a complaint before the concerned authorities, the KHCAA executive body met on Thursday.In its letter to the Acting Chief Justice, the KHCAA stated that over 15 bar associations across the State are protesting or boycotting courts over this incident. However, the KHCAA will not be boycotting work in conformity with its recent stance on boycotts and strikes.The letter also stated that no judge at the Ramankary Court complex or the Alappuzha Principle District Court took note of the incident or urged authorities to take swift action..The legal community in Kerala is no stranger to clashes between lawyers and the police in the State.Just last week, the Court convicted a police officer under the Contempt of Courts Act for allegedly using abusive vocatives and shouting expletives at an advocate. The Court also emphasised that the ruling should serve as a warning to all police personnel about the consequences of disrespecting legal professionals.The High Court is also seized of a plea filed by the KHCAA and its office bearers seeking directions to put in place a mechanism for fast-track adjudication of complaints against police officials who engage in misconduct against lawyers.