A storm of protest erupted in the Kerala High Court today as lawyers boycotted the courtroom of Justice A. Badharudeen, demanding a public apology over remarks he allegedly made to a grieving widow and fellow lawyer.
The controversy unfolded on March 6 when a woman lawyer, whose husband had passed away in January, requested additional time to update vakalath (power of attorney) documents. Instead of receiving leniency, she was allegedly met with an uncharitable response from Justice Badharudeen, including a dismissive query: “Who is Alex Scaria?”—a reference to her late husband.
Outraged by what they viewed as a disrespectful and insensitive reaction, senior lawyers, led by Advocate George Poonthottam, moved a resolution urging an urgent general body meeting of the Kerala High Court Advocates’ Association (KHCAA). At the meeting, held this morning, the legal community decided to stage a collective protest by gathering in Justice Badharudeen’s courtroom to demand an open-court apology.
However, no such apology was forthcoming. While Justice Badharudeen reportedly offered to apologise privately in his chambers, KHCAA President Yeshwanth Shenoy and other lawyers rejected this, insisting that the apology be made publicly. In response, the lawyers resolved to boycott his court entirely.
Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar later met with the lawyers and assured them he would discuss the matter with Justice Badharudeen over the weekend in an attempt to mediate a resolution.
This is not the first time Justice Badharudeen has faced backlash over his courtroom demeanor. Last year, both the KHCAA and the Bar Council of Kerala raised concerns over his alleged treatment of lawyers, citing an instance where Advocate Jayakumar Namboodiri TV was denied an adjournment despite suffering a severe back injury.
In light of repeated grievances, the KHCAA has also pushed for mandatory video recording of courtroom proceedings to ensure accountability on both sides of the bench. As tensions continue to simmer, all eyes are now on the Chief Justice’s next move.
