Andhra Pradesh HC issues contempt notice to 49 for attributing motives, corruption allegations against Supreme Court and High Court Judges

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against 49 persons, including MP Nandigam Suresh and former MLA, Amanchi Krishna Mohan for public statements alleged to have attributed motives, caste and corruption allegations to Supreme Court judges, High Court judges and the High Court itself. (Suo Motu Contempt case - Andhra Pradesh High Court order).The High Court order passed by Chief Justice JK Maheshwari and C Praveen Kumar notes that various interviews, social media posts and speeches made by the accused 49 persons contained abusive, hateful and contemptuous contents. .Advocate General Subrahmanyam Sriram also gave his sanction for initiating the contempt proceedings on finding that these statements scandalised or tended to scandalise the judicial institution. .To cite some of the statements under scrutiny, the Court order refers to a live speech made by the YSR Congress Party's Nandigam Suresh from the party office and broadcasted on Sakshi news, whereby he attributed motives to the High Court and alleged that former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu came to know the verdict in a case about half an hour or 10 minutes before its pronouncement..Another alleged contemnor, Chandu Reddy is found to have tweeted “Total how many judges are there in the High Court, all those will be cut into pieces (sic).” In another tweet, he said “Everyone shall be cut into pieces. All Judges shall be kept in a room and a Carona patient shall be left with them (sic).".The High Court order also cites the example of Kishore Reddy Darisa, who in a Facebook message commented “All the High Court judges are Bastards, they are good for nothing, except sleeping with their wives. Let them arrest me and order for CBI enquiry (sic).”.The Registrar General had lodged reports over the same with the High Court, leading the Court to initiate suo motu contempt proceedings over the same. The High Court order issuing notice on Tuesday also notes that there are eight more unidentified persons who have made such contemptuous comments who are still being traced by..Notices have been issued, including by online means, to all the accused contemnors to explain their statements. The matter has been listed for after three weeks. .It is reported that the contemptuous statements followed certain High Court rulings delivered earlier this year, which its detractors allege are biased in favour of the the opposition party in the State. .These rulings include an order quashing GO for a new colour scheme for government buildings, and initiating contempt proceedings against the Government Chief Secretary. Another ruling concerns the revocation of the suspension of a former intelligence Chief, AB Venkateswara Rao, who was directed to be given salary and all consequential benefits. .Read the High Court order: