Bar President Submits Allegation to Kerala High Court Chief Justice: Claims Justice Mary Joseph Authored Judgments Post-Retirement
(Judicial Quest News Network)
Kerala High Court Advoctaes Association (KHCAA) President Yeshwant Shenoy has personally written a letter to the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court alleging that Justice Mary Joseph has continued to visit her chambers at the High Court to write judgments and backdate them.
In his letter, Bar President Yeshwant Shenoy accuses Justice Mary Joseph of frequently visiting her chambers at the High Court to work on pending judgments. This practice, according to Shenoy, is typically not allowed beyond a designated grace period intended for clearing personal belongings. This incident mirrors a recent Supreme Court ruling that criticized a Madras High Court judge for retaining a case file long after retirement.
The letter also emphasized that Justice Joseph still has active access to the High Court’s IT system, raising concerns about the potential manipulation of documents and records. Shenoy has urged the Chief Justice to take immediate action by instructing the IT registrar to deactivate Justice Joseph’s access and to conduct a thorough investigation into all activities carried out under her account since her retirement.
Furthermore, Shenoy has formally requested disciplinary measures be taken against any registry officials found to be involved in the purported uploading of backdated information.
In a proactive move to prevent future tampering, Shenoy has instituted robust measures aimed at closely monitoring the online status of cases pertaining to Justice Joseph and her office.
Amidst a tumultuous backdrop of strained relations between Shenoy and Justice Joseph, a recent complaint has emerged, adding yet another layer of complexity to their already fraught dynamic. Last year witnessed Shenoy embroiled in a contempt of court case, precipitated by allegations of misconduct leveled against him by none other than Justice Joseph herself. Notably, this contentious episode unfolded concurrently with Shenoy’s bold challenge to the efficiency of Justice Joseph’s court in its handling of cases—a petition that, despite its fervent pursuit, ultimately met with dismissal.
