Chaos in Kerala Court as Lawyers Protest FIR Against A Colleague

A Magistrate Court in Kerala's Kottayam district witnessed turmoil as over 200 lawyers stormed the courtroom, disrupting proceedings in protest against the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against advocate MP Nawab. The chaotic scenes unfolded before Chief Judicial Magistrate Viveeja Sethumohan, who recorded the events in her order.

The protesters, led by advocates Sojan Pavianiyos and Benny Kurian, chanted slogans, preventing the magistrate from responding to the situation. Video evidence confirmed abusive slogans directed at the CJM.

The FIR against advocate Nawab was filed after the court received a complaint from the sheristadar, alleging the submission of false documents to secure bail for his client. Both the advocate and the client face charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including forgery and criminal acts.

On November 22, the Kottayam Bar Association issued a notice, announcing a boycott of court proceedings to protest the FIR and criticize the magistrate's conduct. The association demanded the withdrawal of proceedings against Nawab within seven days, threatening to extend the boycott otherwise.

The protest, recorded by videographers, disrupted court proceedings for 5 to 8 minutes, with some lawyers turning against the police when they attempted to intervene. The widespread dissemination of videos through WhatsApp highlighted the tense situation in the courtroom. The magistrate's order documented the chaotic events and emphasized the need for a resolution to maintain the integrity of court proceedings.

Author: Anushka Taraniya

News Writer, MIT ADT University