Major K. Mathews (Retired) has approached this Court to issue a Writ of Declaration declaring that an ordinary member of the public like him who is conducting a case, party-in-person in a civil or criminal Court, is entitled to be seated in the Court and to make use of the table available in the Court-room and such liberties should not be interfered with or questioned by the members of the Bar.

2. In the affidavit filed in support of the above writ petition, it is stated that he domiciled in Chennai from 1954. In June, 1963 he was Commissioned in the rank of 2nd Lieutenant by the President of India; in the India-Pakistan War in 1971, he was an independent Company Commander in the rank of Captain and was awarded three Medals. In 1975 when his advocate in a rent control case, betrayed his confidence and failed to prosecute his case at a crucial stage, he continued his case by appearing in person. It is stated that so far he had appeared in the High Courts of Kerala, and Madras as well as in the Supreme Court of India as party in person. According to him, while he was appearing in person in O.S.No.7671 of 1985, he suffered insult, ridicule, mental agony and finally assault