Apex Court Seeks Registrar's Report On Controversial Remarks Made By Karnataka HC Judge; Takes Suo Moto Cognizance

The Supreme Court today took suo moto cognizance of the controversial remarks made by Karnataka High Court judge Justice V Srishananda, following the circulation of two viral videos on social media.

The Bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice BR Gavai, Justice Surya Kant, and Justice Hrishikesh Roy sought a status report from the Registrar of the High Court. 

At the outset, the CJI said, "Our attention was brought to video clips circulating in the public, in some proceedings. So what we propose to do right now is that we will refer to that and ask the Registrar General of the High Court to send us a report, and perhaps if needed, we may lay down some guidelines. The issue now is that social media is prominent in observing proceedings in court and commenting on that. So, that’s all we need to do at this stage."

The Bench also sought the assistance of Attorney General (AG) R Venkataramani and Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta in the matter. Accordingly, the Court scheduled the matter for further consideration on September 25. 

The videos in question depict Justice Srishananda making two controversial remarks during judicial proceedings. In one video, he refers to a Muslim-majority sub-locality in West Bengaluru as "Pakistan."

"Go to that Mysuru Road flyover. Every auto rickshaw has 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 police officers you put there, they will be beaten up there,” Justice Srishananda had said. 

“In a foreign country, even if you are going slow at the speed of 40 kmph, the police will come and shift you to the slow lane. Here, you go at your own speed, break the law, and you get away with 304A. What is the fun? Go to any private school today, invariably you will see students riding scooters. The principal doesn’t take any action, and parents do not take any action. Autorickshaws full of 13, 14, and 15 students. Even after that incident where that van capsized and three small children died. No action. Police is totally inactive. They are into lobbying. The majority of these schools are run by so and so...they will manage," he remarked. 

In another, he reprimands a woman lawyer for responding to a question addressed to opposing counsel, jesting that she might even reveal the color of the opposite party’s undergarments.