Kerala High Court Overturns Disciplinary Action Against Advocate Yeshwanth Shenoy

Kerala High Court Ruling

Kochi, June 20: The Kerala High Court has granted an appeal from Yeshwanth Shenoy, the President of the Kerala High Court Advocate Association, regarding the disciplinary actions taken against him by the Kerala Bar Council.

This decision comes after an earlier plea was rejected by a single-judge bench.

A Division Bench, comprising Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice V.M. Syam Kumar, annulled the previous ruling that had declined to intervene in the disciplinary proceedings initiated by the Bar Council of Kerala in 2023 against Shenoy.

Shenoy's troubles began when contempt proceedings were initiated against him after a complaint from former High Court judge, Justice Mary Joseph, who alleged that he verbally assaulted and harassed her during a court appearance.

Justice Joseph claimed that Shenoy threatened her with expulsion from her position.

These contempt proceedings were eventually closed by a division bench last year.

Additionally, the Bar Council of Kerala launched suo motu proceedings citing breaches of professional conduct based on the judge's complaint.

In response, Shenoy filed an internal complaint against Justice Joseph, but the then Chief Justice opted not to pursue it.

Shenoy contested the Bar Council's notice, arguing that if the action stemmed from a complaint, the council should not have initiated suo motu proceedings against him.

He also contended that the complaint did not adhere to the required format.

However, the single judge bench determined that the council regarded the judge's letter as a formal complaint.

After receiving the complaint, the council convened and unanimously decided to initiate proceedings against Shenoy.

Subsequently, a show cause notice was issued to him, and following his response, the matter was referred to the Disciplinary Committee.

This decision has now been overturned by the division bench.