Law department staff suspended for unruly conduct

CHENNAI: The Madras high court has ordered the immediate suspension of a deputy secretary of the law department for unruly behaviour inside a courtroom and creating a ruckus against government lawyers.
Justice M S Ramesh passed the interim order on Friday and suo motu impleaded the principal secretary of the department as a party-respondent. "The further course of action, as to whether this court would proceed for criminal contempt, would be taken up in the next hearing on March 31," the judge said.Deputy secretary C Nagarajan was assigned the duty to instruct the government pleaders regarding court cases on a regular basis.
While so, on March 23, when the court presided by Justice Ramesh was adjourned for a shot recess, Nagarajan who was physically present in the court allegedly behaved in an unruly manner, by raising his voice and using unparliamentary words and created ruckus against the government pleaders in connection with a contempt petition in the presence of the court officer and court staff.
The incident witnessed by lawyers was recorded in the CCTV camera inside the hall. It was alleged that Nagarajan continued this behaviour in the corridors outside the court hall.
When the issue was brought to the notice of Justice Ramesh, the judge said, "Nagarajan's behaviour amounts to scandalising and lowering the authority of the high court, as well as interfering and obstructing the administration of justice."