In 2023, a large group of lawyers entered the courtroom of a magistrate in Kottayam and shouted abusive slogans
Kerala: The Kerala High Court has discharged Advocate Sojan Pavanios from criminal contempt of court proceedings. These proceedings were related to a 2023 incident in which a large group of lawyers entered the courtroom of a magistrate in Kottayam and shouted abusive slogans.
In a judgment passed on April 10, 2025, the Division Bench of Justice Anil K Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S found that there was no evidence to show that Advocate Pavanios was involved in any act that could amount to contempt of court.
After thoroughly examining CCTV footage of the 2023 incident and the statements of witnesses, the Court held that Pavanios did not engage in any shouting of slogans or in any act that would damage the respect and dignity of the court.
Instead, the Court accepted Pavanios’ explanation that he was only answering the magistrate’s questions respectfully about the concerns raised by the group of lawyers.
The Court said:
“Having perused the videographs, taking note of the explanation offered by the 1st respondent (Pavanios) in his affidavit and additional affidavit, we are of the view that the words spoken by the 1st respondent to the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate as seen in the Videograph from 00.01.10 minutes to 00.01.20 minutes were not with an intention to scandalise or obstruct the court proceedings, so as to take it as falling under any of the three heads of Criminal Contempt defined under Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.”
Based on this, the Court closed the contempt proceedings against him.
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On November 23, 2023, around 200 lawyers suddenly entered the courtroom of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Viveeja Sethumohan in Kottayam. They shouted slogans against her to protest what they felt was unfair treatment by the CJM and also a forgery case registered against a fellow lawyer.
The court proceedings were disturbed for several minutes. Some people were seen recording videos of the incident and posting them on social media.
The CJM mentioned the entire incident in a detailed official order. Based on this, the High Court started contempt of court cases against 29 lawyers.
Out of the 29 lawyers, 28 lawyers gave unconditional apologies to the Court. The High Court accepted these apologies, but added a condition—they must offer six months of free legal aid through the District Legal Services Authority.
But Advocate Pavanios chose not to apologise. Instead, he appeared personally before the Court and explained why he believed he did nothing wrong.
Advocate Pavanios told the Court that he was indeed present in the courtroom on the day of the incident. However, he clarified that he did not take part in any shouting or slogan-raising.
He stated that he only answered the CJM’s questions respectfully to convey what the junior lawyers were concerned about. He also mentioned that he tried to calm down some of the lawyers who were shouting while the CJM was explaining her side.
After checking the video recordings and listening to his side, the Court found that he had spoken respectfully for about 10 seconds and had not done anything to interrupt or disturb the court’s functioning.
The Court observed:
“Having considered the pleadings and materials on record and the submissions made at the Bar, we hold that there is no material to proceed against the 1st respondent under the provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 and accordingly this Contempt Case (Crl.) stands closed.”
Case Title: Suo Motu v Adv Sojan Pavanios & ors
