Yet another Raja-judge controversy to the fore

By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai

CHENNAI, 23 July (asiantribune.com): Union Minister Raja-High Court Judge raging controversy is still continuing. Now yet another judge is dragged in for his order.

First, it was Mr. Justice Regupathy’s outburst of being pressurized by a union minister to go soft on a bail case; then the Leader of Opposition Ms. Jayalalitha naming the minister and calling for action against him; ‘Traffic’ Ramaswamy’s PIL for enquiry into the matter by CBI; and the subsequent explanatory letter by the judge to the Chief Justice settled the dust.

Now a group of anonymous advocates have circulated vicious pamphlets against Mr. Justice K Chandru, who had imposed a cost of Rs 10,000 on Union Minister Raja in a defamation case against Tamil bi-weekly “Junior Vikatan”.

The issue relates to a civil suit filed by Raja and his wife seeking to restrain ‘Junior Vikatan’ from publishing any articles or photographs or caricatures about him and his family members. An interim injunction restraining the magazine was issued in April this year, and the magazine, on its part, voluntarily agreed not to publish the pictures of the minister’s minor daughter.

When the matter came up for extension of injunction on July 20, Mr. Justice Chandru, refused to gag the press and said there was no law available to pass prior restraint order against the Press, and he not only rejected the Minister’s application but also imposed a case cost of Rs 10,000 payable to the magazine.

A large number of pamphlets printed in the name of "National Forum for Social Justice" was distributed in the High Court campus since July 22 morning, creating a flutter among advocates. The pamphlet said the judge had earlier argued for the media group when he was an advocate, and that he should not have taken up the case.

The pamphlet, which was distributed to media persons, also said the judge was behaving as if he was the only champion of press freedom and democratic values, and that he should not have awarded the cost on the minister.

Now Mr. Justice Chandru has come under tremendous pressure.

Raja is emerging more powerful with every controversy. He had his say silently with the bail matter, the doctor and his son got anticipatory bail against a CBI case in a surprise move.

At the time of cabinet formation in the Centre, it was suggested Raja’s name and another to be dropped for inclusion. But still he had his way in.

There is a bigger storm getting ready to blow over him at the capital. He might weather it, such is the strong support base he has in the party leadership here.

In New Delhi, it is said, a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister, is getting ready to relieve Raja from the Council of Ministers. More than 200 MPs cutting across party lines have signed the memorandum, which doing its round for more signatures.