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S Gurumurthy's speech on 14 January prompted two lawyers from Tamil Nadu to call for initiating contempt proceedings against him. S Gurumurthy is an editor of the Tamil weekly Thuglak. Earlier, Delhi High Court granted an unconditional apology to him for the contempt of court.
Advocate P Pugalenthi filed a petition in the Madras High Court for taking the action on its own.
Another lawyer Advocate S Doraisamy asked the consent from the Advocate General under Section 15 (1) (b) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to initiate the criminal proceedings.
According to Doraisamy's letter to the Advocate General, Gurumurthy in his speech made the statement: "most of the Judges are dishonest and meritless and obtained the post of the High Court Judge by falling in the legs of politicians."
Doraisamy also mentioned that the Government of Tamil Nadu is reluctant to take action against Gurumurthy " since he happened to be a strong man in BJP." Doraisamy's letter also states "It seems the contemnor S.Gurumurthy thinks that he can make any kind of defamatory speech against the High Court Judges and if any contempt proceedings are initiated he can be let off by making an unconditional apology. Since the contemnor made the above speech which was a written speech with planned intention to defame the Hon’ble Judges knowing full well that the defamatory statement made by him is not correct and hence he is liable to be punished for a maximum punishment of imprisonment for a period of six months with fine."
Gurumurthy is also being reported regretting his misstatements which are made erroneously according to him.
“In the course of my response, my intent was to say how some candidates for the judges -- for even the highest courts -- go and beseech politicians for support. But, in the spur and heat of the moment, I mentioned judges instead of candidates. It is an error. For which, I regret", The New Indian Express has reported.