Slander, bullying, intimidation in Courts are not words that should string together. Yet they do. All consequences to be suffered for having made complaints against fake advocates. In open court. In front of dozens of witnesses. It is at its very core traumatic. And yes the body keeps the score.
Intimidation by Thugs: Karnataka Information Commission hearing against Karnataka State Bar Council
On 28th March 2022, the night before the first hearing of the second appeal No.KIC/7733/APL/2020 thugs turned up at our house threatening us. This was an appeal against Karnataka State Bar Council [KSBC] for refusing to provide information about G.A.Srikante Gowda’s Bar enrollment. The State Information Commissioner issued a stern warning to KSBC to desist from such tactics.
My sister is assailing the final order of the Karnataka Information Commission. This is through Writ Petition No.6906 of 2022 in the High Court of Karnataka. Read more about problems with it here:
Bullying and Intimidation in Courts
In the High Court of Karnataka G.A.Srikante Gowda and his entourage of lawyers follow us everywhere. Advocates not on record turn up at hearings, shouting one down. Rabble rousing. The only chant being “how dare we make a complaint against an advocate?” Encouraged by Karnataka State Bar Council’s dismissal of my sister’s complaint against a fake advocate and 2 other advocates who colluded with him. You can read about our efforts to bring to account two advocates for being fake here:
Slander and Intimidation in Courts
At times, Advocates representing the opposite party throw absolute histrionic fits while arguing. Or in other words an out and out verbal assault. Done every time. Every hearing. In open court. In front of other lawyers and litigants. Like a street fight. The sword of contempt hangs overhead gagging voices. All goes. Because one dared to complain.
One is branded a liar. One is also vexatious. Also frivolous. As well as contemptuous. One whines. One Complains. Furthermore one is a woman!
Repeated. Again and again in different courts.
Slander is a form of harassment that is punishable under the Indian Penal code. In India the law does not make a distinction between slander and libel. While the former is spoken, the latter is written. Anything that tends to lower the reputation of a person would be considered defamation under Indian Law.
In one instance an advocate decided to slander the current Chief Justice of India and then in his infinite slanderous stupidity attributes the contempt to me. How does one respond to this abysmal level of intellect?
Dignity and Decorum
It is said that dignity forms the backbone of the fundamental rights allegedly guaranteed by the Constitution of India. But one knows that at its very core fundamental rights inhere only in the privileged. Herein the privilege is on account of the simple act of wearing a black coat. Moreover it doesn’t matter if the person is a legally enrolled advocate or an impersonator. Because the black coat is your gag. The dignity and the decorum of the court is your gag. Hence no place for a rebuttal. You stand there in silence in order to maintain the dignity and the decorum of the court. Which is all your responsibility since you do not sport a black coat.
It is incumbent on a Presiding Officer to maintain the dignity of his courtroom. What is extremely disturbing is not so much the stupidity that expresses itself as slander but the refusal of Presiding Officers/Justices to intervene. The refusal to censure an advocate who desecrates the dignity of the court. Thereby condoning such reprehensible behaviour. As a citizen of this country, on the street I know I can call the cops when something gets out of hand. But within the courts I am asked to stay silent and bear the crime that is unleashed on me.