CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Tuesday strongly cautioned against attempts to level allegations of bias against judges, stressing the proper remedy was to file an appeal in case of adverse orders, while hearing a plea seeking the cancellation of interim bail granted to YouTuber Savukku Shankar in cheating cases.
The bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan criticised a lawyer who raised allegations of bias against the bench, which was hearing a petition seeking cancellation of Shankar's interim bail.
The YouTuber Savukku Shankar, who was arrested on December 13 in cheating cases registered by the Adambakkam and Saidapet police, was granted interim bail till March 25 on medical grounds in a habeas corpus petition filed by his mother, A Kamala.
When the petition seeking cancellation of the interim bail by the Saidapet Inspector of Police came up for hearing before Justices P Velmurugan and M Jothiraman, the bench questioned Shankar's conduct after obtaining bail on medical grounds.
During the hearing, Shankar's counsel raised an apprehension of bias. The bench, however, declined to stall the proceedings and advised the counsel to approach the Chief Justice.
A subsequent mention of the same matter before the Chief Justice's bench, alleging remarks against the judge, drew strong criticism. The High Court stated that it would not permit the misuse or abuse of legal proceedings, emphasising that challenging adverse rulings should be done through filing an appeal.