The Kerala High Court Advocates' Association (KHCAA) has written a strongly worded letter to Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar accusing him of passing an order dismissing many cases on the day of the strike/protest by lawyers on Wednesday, to pressurise the Association to settle a disciplinary proceedings initiated by it against its member Senior Advocate George Poonthottam.

A Division Bench headed by Justice Nambiar had passed an order dismissing many cases for non-appearance of lawyers on the day of their "pen-down protest" against the hike by the state government in court fees.

While all the other Benches of the Court chose to adjourn the cases where lawyers did not appear, Justice Nambiar's Bench passed an order dismissing cases while calling the strike "preposterous" and saying that the letter addressed by the Association to the Chief Justice informing about the protest contains "gratuitous sermons interspersed with veiled threats".

The KHCAA, in its letter of April 10, addressed to Justice Nambiar, says, "We have reason to believe that the order was passed by you to pressurise us to come to a 'settlement' as regards the action initiated against Sr. Adv. George Poonthottam."

The KHCAA also says in its letter that it will demand an appropriate inquiry by the Chief Justice into the circumstances behind the order. "Since, the order passed on 9 April 2025 is on the Judicial side, we will not deal with the merits of the same in this letter but will address a specific complaint as regards that to the Hon'ble Chief Justice so as to initiate appropriate inquiry on the same in accordance with procedure", the letter reads.

Senior Advocate George Poonthottam was suspended by KHCAA last month after he allegedly negotiated a settlement with Judges in the matter of a complaint by KHCAA against another Judge of the High Court, Justice A Badharudeen. The KHCAA had alleged that he negotiated with the Chief Justice and other Judges, resulting in the withdrawal of the complaint by a member of the KHCAA, which complaint had prompted the KHCAA to address a letter to the Chief Justice against the Judge.

In its latest letter, the KHCAA has claimed that Justice Nambiar had requested a meeting with its office bearers to "discuss the way forward on the disciplinary notice" issued to the Senior Advocate. The KHCAA has informed Justice Nambiar that its office bearers will not attend the said meeting.

The KHCAA says in its letter, signed by both its President, Advocate Yeshwanth Shenoy and Secretary, Advocate M. R. Nandakumar, "We would like to set the record straight and clearly communicate that the interference of Judges in the affairs of the KHCAA is not appreciated and the Judges are requested not to meddle with the affairs of the Association".

The letter concludes by asking Justice Nambiar, "Please direct your staff to not make any further calls to us or Sr. Adv. Sugunapalan as regards the meeting as the KHCAA has no intent to bend its procedure while dealing with 'persons of interest' of any Judge".

The strike/protest was called by the Association to protest against the hike the court fees by the state government. The said hike has also been challenged by the Association by filing a Writ Petition.

Click here to read/download letter



Justice AK Jayasankaran NambiarKHCAAKerala High Court

Verdictum News Desk