R D Santhana Krishnan, an advocate of the Madras High Court learned the perils of not being fully conversant with the technology the hard way. During a live-streamed video-conferencing of hearing of a case before a single judge, the advocate was seen cuddling and fondling a woman standing next to him. Unfortunately for him, some people recorded a video which went viral causing “a great deal of consternation among the judiciary”
Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry has prevented
R D Santhana Krishnan from practicing as an advocate in all courts, tribunals and other authorities in India either in his name or in any assumed name till the disciplinary proceedings pending against him for his alleged indecent behavior are disposed off.
Judges P N Prakash and R Hemalatha had on their own initiated contempt proceedings against Santhana Krishnan and directed CB-CID wing of the police to register a case and hold a thorough probe on the issue. Tamil Nadu Bar Council was also asked to take appropriate disciplinary proceedings against the lawyer.
No information about the woman seen in the apparently consensual-looking act in the video along with Advocate Santhana Krishnan could be availed as yet. Some reports claim her to be his wife, whereas others claim that she is a junior and practicing lawyer. Questions are also raised why she is spared from similar prohibition if she too is in the legal profession.
Secretary of the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry C Raja Kumar said that “During judicial proceedings, there is a certain decorum and restraint that you maintain as lawyers. This man violated all of those codes of conduct and is getting punishment”
