Published on: 21 September, 2024 14:08 IST
Supreme Court expressed serious concerns over controversial remarks made by Karnataka High Court Judge Justice Vedavyasachar Srishananda during a recent court hearing and sought a report on the matter.
While presiding over a landlord-tenant dispute, Justice Srishananda referred to a Muslim-majority area in Bengaluru as “Pakistan” and made a misogynistic comment directed at a female lawyer. These comments, widely circulated on social media, have drawn sharp criticism.
A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, and including Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, and Hrishikesh Roy, stressed the need for clear guidelines for judges on judicial conduct in courtrooms. The bench emphasized that judicial remarks must align with the decorum expected of constitutional courts, especially in the age of social media, where court proceedings are closely scrutinized and amplified.
One video showed Justice Srishananda referring to a Muslim-majority area in Bengaluru as “Pakistan,” while another captured him making an inappropriate comment implying that a female lawyer’s knowledge of the opposition party might extend to knowing “the color of their undergarments.”
CJI Chandrachud, referring to media reports, said, “Attention has been drawn to the comments made by the Karnataka High Court judge during court proceedings.” The Supreme Court has asked the Karnataka High Court to submit a report on the matter after consultation with its Chief Justice.
The report is expected within two days, with a hearing on the issue set for next Wednesday. CJI Chandrachud noted, “We may lay down some basic guidelines,” signaling the Supreme Court’s intent to establish clearer standards for judicial conduct in court.