TV
In a strong rebuke, the Orissa High Court lambasted a lawyer for misleading the court by submitting a forged document to show his client as a juvenile. The Division bench comprising Justice SK Sahoo and Justice Chittaranjan Dash cautioned the lawyer and emphasised that ‘justice may be blind, the judges are not sightless’.
The judges called on the legal professionals to uphold the integrity and honesty in legal proceedings.
As per a report in Law Trend, the case concerned appellant Jata @Sanatan Hessa, had filed an appeal against his conviction in a criminal matter. In support of his appeal, his legal team submitted a forged school transfer certificate to establish that he was a juvenile at the time of the offense.
However, discrepancies soon arose over the authenticity of the school leaving certificate and prompted the court to intervene. The HC then firmly rejected the interim application and issued a cautionary note to the legal fraternity.
“Justice may be blind, but the judges are not sightless,” the Bench declared.
“It is not only the power but also the duty of the Court to uphold and maintain the dignity of the courts and the majesty of law. If for proper administration of justice, it is required to take strict view, it should not hesitate in wielding the potent weapon of contempt,” Justice SK Sahoo stated expressing dismay at the growing trend of submitting forged documents to obtain favourable outcomes in courts.
According to Law Trend, in a powerful observation, the Bench quoted, “High Court is a temple; its presiding deity is Justice. Lawyers are its priests. It is most unfortunate when priests undermine the sanctity and purity of the temple.”
