Suriya’s Comments on Judiciary Unwarranted But No Need for Contempt, Says Court

The court gave a 29-page order drawing the curtains on the proceedings, and added that the Principal Seat of the Madras High Court had disposed of 25181 cases through the pandemic, pointing out that the court was not “sitting idle.” The court said the matter would not be pursued further.

Last week, an evocative and sharply worded statement by actor Suriya hitting out against the conduct of the NEET medical entrance test had drawn ire. Madras High Court judge SM Subramaniam wrote to the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court seeking contempt proceedings for Suriya’s objectionable references to the functioning of the judiciary in the letter.

In the statement that Suriya had released on September 13, the actor had strongly criticised the necessitation of the NEET exam in the adverse conditions imposed by the lockdown and the general digital divide between students with better coaching and internet connectivity and those who are trying to make do with little or no facilities. To drive home the point that the exam shouldn’t have been conducted, Suriya wondered how students can be expected to bravely step out and write an exam when judges conduct their duty via video conferencing from their homes.