KOCHI: Fiery CPM leader M V Jayarajan will have to spend six months in jail for his offending speech against two judges who had banned roadside meetings last year. The Kerala High Court has held that his infamous ‘Shumbhan’ remarks amount to “belittling the judges as incompetent and ignorant of law.’’ The respondent was thereby “sowing the seeds of hatred towards the judges of the High Court as also the High Court in the minds of the public,” a Division Bench said and sentenced Jayarajan to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of `2,000, the maximum punishment under Section 12 of the Criminal Contempt of Court Act. In case of default in paying the fine, he will have to undergo simple imprisonment for one month.Immediately after the verdict, he was taken to Poojappura central Jail in Thiruvananthapuram.The Division Bench comprising Justice V Ramkumar and Justice P Q Barkath Ali issued the order on the suo motu proceedings, which were initiated by the High Court against the CPM leader after he ridiculed a court order banning roadside meetings at a public meeting held in Kannur on June 26, 2010.Jayarajan’s counsel M Saseendran filed an application invoking Section 19 (3) of the Contempt Act, seeking suspension of execution of the punishment on the grounds that he intends to prefer an appeal before the Supreme Court. But it was turned down by the Bench.“Jayarajan had escalatingly committed contempt of court by characterising the two judges who pronounced a judgment as ‘fools’ and calling upon them to resign and step down from their office, if they have any self- respect in them. “Jayarajan stuck to his stand firmly throughout the court proceedings without any expression of remorse. He had been reiterating his stand with impunity during his frequent media escapades,” according to the court. It said that after the trial for the discreditable and denigrating remarks made by him scandalising the judges, he is found guilty of “criminal contempt.” He has seriously sullied the image, dignity and high esteem of the judges, the court said.CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said the party would appeal against the verdict, as it was “improper and denial of natural justice.”
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