CHENNAI: Accepting Electricity Minister Arcot N. Veerasamy's clarification that his February 4 statement against the judiciary need not be considered disrespect to or ridicule of the institution, the Madras High Court has treated the matter as closed.

When the matter was taken up by the First Bench comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice K. Chandru on Tuesday, Additional Advocate-General P.S. Raman filed a statement on behalf of the Minister.

"On behalf of the Honourable Minister for Electricity, it is respectfully submitted before this honourable court that his statements, said to have been made on February 4, were never intended to denigrate this honourable court and were certainly not intended to be intimidatory. The statements were also never intended in any manner to lower the esteem in which the honourable judges and the judiciary are kept in the minds of people and the Executive."

It further said the comments may be viewed in the backdrop of a genuine debate on judicial review and its scope vis-a-vis the Executive or Legislature.

"... the statement made by him may not be treated as constituting any disrespect for the judiciary or its independence nor as calculated to ridicule this honourable institution.

The Honourable Minister, as indeed the present Government as a whole, genuinely desires that the three pillars of the Constitution — the Legislature, the Judiciary and the Executive — function with mutual respect and for the benefit of the people."

Referring to a statement issued by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on February 6, stating that the judiciary and judges were held in highest esteem and that nothing should be done to "upset this delicate relationship between these two pillars of governance," Mr. Veerasamy said he "unequivocally expressed his affirmation" of the Chief Minister's statement.

The Judges then said they accepted the explanation and wished to put an end to the whole issue.

Calling upon the advocate community to stop all agitations, they said they were not happy with activities such as laying a flower carpet along the court corridors.

They further said all the three pillars of the democracy must function with mutual respect.

The Judges also said they did not want anybody to do anything to further the confrontation.

Earlier, advocate R. Karuppan pledged the Bar's support to the judiciary, whereas advocate G. Rajendran said if the matter was not taken seriously it would set a bad precedent.

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