The Madras High Court has censured a city police inspector for disobeying a court order of March 22 this year, relating to the arrest of S. Swarna, a dancer.
Originally, the court had directed the Mylapore police to arrest Swarna in a matter relating to her borrowing a sum from a financier, S. Mukanchand Bothra.
Alleging that the police inspector, Mohandass, did not comply with the order, Mr. Bothra preferred the present contempt application.
In the order, Justice T. Mathivanan held that the inspector had committed contempt of court. Citing a Supreme Court order, he said the function of the judiciary was distinctly different from other organs of the State, in the sense that its function is divine in nature. The ordinary citizen is expected to get justice as guaranteed by the Constitution. From the averments of the petition and the averments of the counter and other material, the court was able to find that the inspector had committed contempt of court in disobeying its order.
Accordingly, he was being convicted under Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act. Keeping in view the inspector’s official position, family background and also considering his future career, Mr. Justice Mathivanan said he was awarding censure. The court disposed of the contempt petition.
Keywords: Mukanchand Bothra, Swarna dancer, contempt of court
