TN: Woman lawyer apologises for 'obscene' messages to judge

CHENNAI: A 52-year-old woman lawyer, who sent obscene messages to a former minister and a sub-judge allegedly under depression, escaped disciplinary action from the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, as she tendered an unconditional apology through sworn affidavits. Considering her age, a special committee of the council comprising senior advocate R Singaravelan, chairman, members S Ilamvaluthi and Ravi Shanmugam accepted her apology and refrained from initiating any adverse action against her.
"A woman advocate coming forward to practice in courts at the age of 52 is very rare that too in mofussil areas. Therefore, we are not inclined to drive her out of the legal profession... Moreover, if a woman is punished, her entire family faces humiliation in the society for generations together. In view of such thoughts, we avoid imposing any major punishment against her and choose to close all the complaints accepting her unconditional apology," the committee said.
The issue pertains to a complaint made by the woman advocate against another advocate alleging sexual harassment.
However, during the hearing, it came to light that it was in fact the woman who sent obscene messages to a former minister and a sub-judge. To get way from the offence, the woman lawyer had filed a false complaint with the Bar council.