Andhra HC issues notice to 49 including MP for contemptuous remarks

Taking a serious note of the contemptuous remarks made against it on social media, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday ordered notice to 49 people including a Member of Parliament and a former Member of Legislative Assembly.

Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by an advocate over the abusive postings against certain recent judgments of the high court, it directed that notices be issued to all such people.

Bapatla MP, Nandigam Suresh, former MLA Amanchi Krishna Mohan, both belonging to the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and 47 others were served notice. The court adjourned the hearing by three weeks.

Lakshmi Narayana, who filed the PIL, said for the last few days objectionable postings were uploaded on social media making abusive comments against the judges for certain judgments. The advocate said he was hurt over the attempts to turn the court into a political platform.

The petitioner said after the high court on May 22 ordered a CBI probe into manhandling of a suspended government doctor by Visakhapatnam police, several comments were made on the social media.

There were more objectionable comments by a section of social media users following judgments on May 22 which were seen as a setback to the government. In one case, the court set aside the government order for painting the public buildings in the colour of the ruling party flags and asked the Chief Secretary and two other senior officials to appear before it.

In another case, the court set aside the suspension of senior IPS officer A.B. Venkateswara Rao. The government had suspended him for alleged irregularities in procurement of defence equipment.

Criticising these judgments, some people over social media targeted the judges using vulgar language and attributed motives to them.

The high court received complaints from several advocates and other individuals about abusive postings and demanded action against those responsible for it.

( With inputs from IANS )