Court orders minister's presence in contempt case

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's high court has directed Paloli Mohammad Kutty, the state's local administration minister, to appear in person on February 26 for the hearing of contempt of court charges against him.

The minister, and publishers of four Malayalam newspapers - Mangalam, Madhyamam, Thejus and Deepika - had been directed to appear before the high court yesterday. However, the minister pleaded to be exempted from personal appearance yesterday owing to his official duties as minister.

When the court met yesterday, it granted the minister's plea to be exempted from appearing for the day, but directed him to appear in person on February 26.

Kutty landed in trouble over some general remarks he is alleged to have made about the conduct of courts. He had made the comments while speaking at a meeting of the Calicut University Employees Association. The minister who cited official duties in seeking exemption from being present in court yesterday, remained elusive to media also.