The All India Lawyers’ Union has urged the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court to initiate stringent action against those responsible for displaying the portrait of Bharat Mata during a programme attended by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the high court auditorium on Tuesday.
The display of the portrait of Bharat Mata at the event organised by the Bharatheeya Abhibhashaka Parishad affiliated to the Sangh Parivar was a challenge to the Constitution. The incident showed attempts to saffronise even the venue of the higher echelons of judiciary, alleged C.M. Nazar, secretary of the High Court unit of the union, in a communication.
The union condemned the use of a court venue for the event attended by the Governor, who had earlier tried to initiate extreme Hindutva reforms at Raj Bhavan. Such incidents will erode confidence in the secular credentials of the judiciary, it said.
The High Court lawyers’ committee of the Democratic Youth Federation of India also condemned the incident. It said a complaint would be lodged before the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court and the State Election Commission.