The clash between Kerala High Court lawyers and judges is getting more serious. The Advocates’ Association wrote a letter asking judges not to get involved in their matters, after the court passed an order against their April 9 boycott.
The dispute between the Kerala High Court Advocates’ Association and certain judges of the Kerala High Court escalated on Friday (April 11, 2025), with the association sending a letter to a judge expressing its disapproval of judicial interference in the organization’s affairs.
In a joint letter from association president Yeshwant Shenoy and secretary M.R. Nandakumar addressed to Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar, they requested that judges “not meddle with the affairs of the association.”
The organization also objected to an April 9 order issued by Justice Nambiar, which addressed the lawyers’ decision to boycott the court that day.
Lawyers claimed that Justice Nambiar’s order was intended to pressure them into settling the matter regarding senior lawyer George Poonthottam, who was recently suspended from the association.
Last month, the lawyers had boycotted Justice A. Badharudeen’s court, protesting what they described as the judge’s inappropriate behavior towards them. The association suspended Poonthottam for allegedly compromising the issue with the judge without informing the association about the negotiations.
Nandakumar stated,
“There was a move to mediate the issue involving the senior lawyer at the behest of Justice Nambiar. The association is not in favour of any such moves. The disciplinary committee of the association is currently considering some disciplinary action against the lawyer,”.
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The general body of the association passed a resolution on Friday condemning the judges’ actions, which they viewed as disregarding the legitimate protests of the lawyers. The association plans to raise the issue with the Chief Justice of India.
Meanwhile, judicial sources indicated that the judicial order concerning the boycott of courts and the alleged mediation were unrelated.
They also denied any attempts to mediate the issue involving the senior lawyer, asserting that the only action taken was to allow a senior judge of the High Court, who had previously intervened to resolve the conflict, to explain to the lawyers what occurred during a meeting convened by the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court aimed at resolving the issue amicably.
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Sources emphasized that the judicial order regarding the boycott was separate from any mediation attempts.
The Supreme Court has consistently clarified that lawyers cannot engage in strikes under any circumstances, noting that such actions could lead to contempt of court proceedings and the suspension of association leaders from practicing law.
The April 9 order simply reflected the directives of the Supreme Court, according to these sources.