Paloli in the dock

KOCHI: The Kerala high court on Monday declined to drop contempt proceedings against local administration minister Paloli Mohammedkutty, saying that his remarks had shaken the confidence of the people in the judicial system. The court posted the case to April 11 for further hearing.

The court felt that the minster could mitigate the damages to some extent by giving an unconditional apology in public.

``We do not propose to give any direction to Paloli to tender apology or express any regret to the general public because an act of apology should be an act of real repentance,’’ the court said.

The court had launched suo motu contempt proceedings against the minister for his public statement on January 30 — alleging motives against the judiciary in discharging its functions — and had asked him to appear in court on February 15.

The minister appeared in the court on February 26 and made an unconditional apology for his statement made in Kozhikode.