‘Chilling effect on citizens’: Arappor against Shankar’s conviction

CHENNAI: Arappor Iyakkam, an anti-graft organisation, has opined that conviction of Savukku Shankar for contempt will have a "chilling effect" on common citizens from airing their grievances about the Judicial functioning and system.

"It is a matter of concern that the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has convicted Savukku Shankar to 6 months of imprisonment for having committed contempt of court. Without getting into the merits or demerits of the case, judgment delivered without providing sufficient time to defend himself," Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of the organisation, said.

He added, "It is a matter of regret that the contempt of Court power continues to be used in India even when there is widespread consensus that this law, which is of colonial vintage, has no place in the lawbooks of Independent India. We call upon all democratic minded citizens to renew the demand that the criminal powers under the `Contempt of Court’ law should be repealed."