SC takes suo motu note of 'Pakistan' remarks by Karnataka High Court judge

Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports on controversial remarks made by Justice Vedavyasachar Srishananda of the Karnataka High Court that a particular (Muslim-dominated) area of Bengaluru was in Pakistan, the Supreme Court on Friday sought a report from the Registrar General of the high court.

Advertisement

“We may lay down some basic guidelines after seeking a report from the Registrar General of the high court,” a five-judge Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud said.

“Go to that Mysore Road flyover. Every auto rickshaw has got 10 people. It is not applicable because the Mysore flyover right up to the flower market from Gori Palya is in Pakistan… not in India. This is the reality. This is the reality. No matter how strict a police officer you put there they will be beaten up there,” Justice Srishananda was seen saying in a video clip of a hearing that has gone viral on social media. In another video in circulation, the judge was seen making certain gender insensitive remarks to a woman lawyer.

Asking the Karnataka High Court Registrar General to submit a report on the issue in two days after seeking administrative directions from the Chief Justice of the high court, the Bench posted the matter for further hearing on Wednesday.

The Bench – which also included Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice BR Gavai, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hrishikesh Roy – also sought the assistance of Attorney General R Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in the matter.

Noting that its attention has been drawn to media reports to the comments made by Srishananda of the Karnataka High Court during court proceedings, the Bench sounded a note of caution for judges. “In this age of social media, court proceedings are closely watched and thus we have to act accordingly,” the CJI said.

Senior counsel Indira Jaising had taken to X to urge the CJI to take suo motu action against the judge in question.