From rxpgnews.com
Kerala High Court rejects minister's apology
By IANS,
Apr 13, 2007 - 6:12:34 PM
Kochi, April 13 - The Kerala High Court Friday again refused to accept an apology from Local Self Government Minister Paloli Mohammed Kutty for a speech in which he had cast aspersions on the judiciary, even as he said he would not resign over the issue.
'I have no problems even if I have to go to jail when the court gives its verdict on May 30. I have not been indicted by the court for a corruption case or like the Suryaneli case -. And there is no question of my resigning,' Kutty told reporters at Malappuram.
The bench comprising Acting Chief Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan and Justice M.N. Krishnan had suo motu initiated contempt proceedings against the minister over his speech in Kozhikode on Jan 30 in which he said verdicts these days were decided on the basis of the thickness of currency notes that seriously affected the prestige of the court.
On April 2, the court disposed of an apology by the minister, saying he should instead apologise to the people. If he does that, 'maybe we can consider it when we declare the punishment'.
The bench Friday reiterated the same View.
'This is a very serious issue and the case has been posted for May 30,' said the bench.
Meanwhile, demands for Kutty's resignation have come from the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front and also the Bharatiya Janata Party.
However, the Communist Party of India-Marxist top brass met in the capital city and state secretary Pinnarayi Vijayan said the question of the minister's resignation did not arise at all.
'We will seek judicial recourse. We will go to higher courts if the situation arises,' said Vijayan.
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