Summary:
Madurai, Sep 15 (PTI) The Madras High Court on Thursday convicted a well-known Youtuber, A Sankar alias "Savukku" Sankar, for criminal contempt and sentenced him to six months" imprisonment. The case was taken on its own against Sankar by the court.
The bench of Judges GR Swaminathan and B Pugalendhi had called upon Sankar to explain as to why he should not be held guilty of "scandalizing the judiciary" by levelling corruption charges against it.
In the previous hearing he had not expressed regret or remorse and had admitted to making such statements, the court pointed out.
"It is to be noted that the contemnor admitted having made all the charged statements.
It does not require a forensic mind to conclude that they are ex-facie scandalous.
They denigrate and deride the institution of judiciary.
The legal maxim "res ipsa loquitor" (the thing speaks for itself) can be analogically applied," the bench said.
Sankar"s statement that the entire higher judiciary is riddled with corruption was the subject matter of the show cause notice.
"The contemnor would be well within his rights to highlight specific instances of corruption.
Of course, they must be backed by materials.
He cannot tar the entire institution with a single brush.