SHIMLA: While sentencing an advocate to one month simple imprisonment, along with fine of Rs 10,000 each in two cases, for posting comments on Facebook and for making indecent attacks against judiciary, the Himachal Pradesh HC has observed that the judiciary can not be reduced to the position of flies in the hands of wanton boys.The court said the trend of targeting and making wild allegations against judges would lead to a catastrophe and therefore has to be stopped and dealt with an iron fist to curb and control the growing trend of 'judges bashing'. "This message has to go out and must be loud and clear," it added. The court further said the protection was necessary for courts to enable them to discharge their judicial functions without fear."A litigant for that matter or even a lawyer cannot be permitted to browbeat the court or terrorize or intimidate judges or malign presiding officer(s) with a view to getting a favourable order," observed the Division Bench of Justices Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Chander Bhusan Barowalia in a judgment delivered on Friday.The court said the genesis of this case was an application moved by the lawyer for the release of his client's vehicle. However, since the orders passed by the court were not to the liking of the respondent, he took to proxy war not only against the said magistrate, but made disparaging and contemptuous remarks against the court when it initiated proceedings of contempt against him. "We are of the opinion that until immediate action is not taken, judge bashing will become the norm and it will become difficult to preserve and protect the institution of judiciary," it added.

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