Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Power of contempt

Sir, — The well-balanced and moderate article, `The power of contempt' by Kuldip Nayar (March 30), reminds me of the letter written by E.M.S. Namboodiripad to the Editor of Law Times which published the Supreme Court verdict on his contempt case. He charged the judiciary with being an instrument of oppression. EMS suffered the judgment and did not intend saying anything about the confirmation of conviction by the Supreme Court and reduction of sentence of fine from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 50. He only wanted to explain that part of the judgment in which the Supreme Court purpoted to expose his `error' about the teachings of Marx and Engels.

EMS wrote: "I must be punished if I have acted against the law as the judges interpret it even if any claim with regard to the teachings of Marx and Engels is correct. On the other hand, even if I am making a false claim, I cannot be punished if I have not transgressed the law as it is interpreted by the judges." EMS strongly criticised the judges who, according to him, misinterpreted the most intricate political philosophy, but he did so in a moderate and respectful language.

V.K. Sathyavan Nair,
Kottayam, Kerala

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