High Court takes advocate to task for wasting its time

The High Court on Monday lashed out at a City-based advocate for wasting the time of the court by filing a habeas corpus petition and, warned him of imposing heavy cost on him.

The advocate, Gopal Gowda, claiming to be a relative of a ‘missing’ 20-year-old man from Mandya, had filed a habeas corpus petition stating that the police had not responded to the missing complaint.

When the matter came up for hearing, the Division Bench had directed the police to produce the boy. When the police did not comply with the directions, the bench ordered Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP)  to appear before the court and explain the matter. Subsequently, the DG&IGP Lalrokhoma Pachuau appeared before the court and submitted that the man has been arrested for three cases of burglary.

On learning that the advocate is not related to the man, the bench gave him a dressing down for wasting the time of the court and directed the Peenya police to collect information about him.

Advocate told to apologise

The High Court has directed an advocate to tender an apology to a family court judge at Belgaum, whom he had abused during a hearing.

Hearing a criminal contempt petition, the Division Bench comprising Justice K L Manjunath and Justice H S Kempanna directed the advocate to appear before the district family court judge P M G Patil and tender an apology.

“Thereafter, he must obtain a certified copy and submit the apology to this court within a week,” the Bench observed and adjourned the matter for a week.
The advocate had abused the judge alleging delay in court proceedings. The High Court registrar general had initiated a suo motu criminal contempt petition against the counsel on January 16, 2013.

Gutkha ban

The High Court adjourned the hearing of a petition seeking to implement the ban on gutkha and other tobacco products.

During the hearing of the petition by Cancer Patients’ Aid Association, the State government submitted that the proceedings seeking to implement the ban on gutkha have been stayed by the Supreme Court.

He said gutkha manufacturers had moved the apex court seeking to stay the proceedings.

The Division Bench adjourned the matter for four weeks.