Madras High Court Jails Advocate for Defying Rented Property Eviction

Fast Summary:

• Advocate A. Mohandoss, aged 54, from Choolaimedu in Chennai, has been sentenced by the Madras High Court to four months of imprisonment for contempt of court.
• Despite orders from both the Supreme Court and High Court to vacate a rented property owned by Parsanchand’s son, Mohandoss continuously delayed eviction as 2009.
• Justice N. sathish Kumar noted the advocate’s adverse conduct caused critically important hardship to the landlord and disrespected judicial authority.
• The advocate had taken over a two-storey building on rent in 2006 but refused requests to vacate after Parsanchand’s death in 2009. Legal proceedings began in 2015 and resulted in favorable orders for the landlord in 2021.
• Mohandoss filed multiple legal challenges against eviction up till May 31, 2025 but repeatedly failed to comply with deadlines for vacating despite Supreme Court directives.
• The High Court directed disciplinary action against him through the Bar Council of Tamil nadu and Puducherry due to his alleged misconduct as an advocate.

Indian Opinion analysis:

The sentencing highlights serious concerns regarding misuse of legal systems by individuals with expertise or connections within judiciary frameworks-particularly lawyers who are expected to uphold ethical practices and respect judicial orders. It reflects wider systemic challenges where prolonged litigation is weaponized against weaker parties such as landlords or tenants seeking lawful resolution. This case also underscores accountability mechanisms within India’s judiciary that can be enforced even against legal professionals when they undermine trust or act contrary to professional standards.

For broader implications, this judgment sends a strong message emphasizing zero tolerance toward professional misconduct while reinforcing adherence to court mandates across all levels-an essential move towards restoring confidence among citizens reliant on India’s judicial system for equitable outcomes.

Read more: Madras HC sentences lawyer for contempt