Restrain judges from making unrelated remarks: CPI

“As Indian citizens, judges have their right to views and opinions on personal ideology. But their duty is to act in accordance with the rules of the law when it comes to trial and adjudication in courts. It is the expectation of the people of Tamil Nadu that the Chief Justice should direct the judges to conform to the rules,” CPI (M) State secretary K Balakrishnan said in a statement.

His statement came in the wake of HC judge Justice S Vaidyanathan’s controversial remark on Christian institution being unsafe for the girls and his observation on how women allegedly misused laws, like the dowry prohibition law, to teach men a lesson.

Justice Vaidyanathan, who was hearing a case of alleged sexual harassment of students of Madras Christian College, had said: “There are allegations that Christian missionaries are forcibly converting. There is concern among parents that there is no protection for the future of girls in Christian educational institutions. It is a million-dollar question if Christian education institutions are teaching ethics, even if they provide good education. The Central government should amend women’s protection laws from abuse and protects the innocent male.”

According to Balakrishnan, the judge commented and issued an order that had little relevance to the process. Judge Vaidyanathan has ordered the removal of objectionable portions from his verdict following protests from all sections of the public.

“This is not the first incident; judges continue to make unnecessary remarks in many cases. The CPI (M) would like to point out that such a tendency will erode public confidence in the dignity of the judiciary,” he said.