New Delhi: The Supreme Court today took suo motu cognizance of the video clips containing the controversial comments made by a judge of Karnataka High Court during hearings.
A 5-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant and Hrishikesh Roy assembled this morning and passed an order seeking a report from the Karnataka High Court.
Recently, two video clips of Justice Vedavya Sachar Srishananda of Karnataka High Court surfaced on social media, in which he was seen making objectionable remarks. In one video, he was seen referring to an area in Bengaluru as “Pakistan”. In another video, he was seen making objectionable remarks to a woman advocate.
The Judge had specifically named the areas of City Market, Gowripalya (JJ Nagar) and Mysore Road areas which have a substantial Muslim population as ‘above law’ because the auto drivers carry around 10 passengers and do not follow any law and nobody can stop them doing so. It looks like Pakistan, he remarked.
“Attorney General, we may lay down some basic guidelines and seek a report from the secretary general of the HC,” CJI told AG R Venkataramani.
The Court directed the Registrar General of the High Court to submit a report to the Supreme Court after seeking administrative directions from the Chief Justice of Karnataka HC. The matter will be next considered on Monday.
“In this age of social media, we are closely watched, and we have to act accordingly,” CJI said. Several social media users, including prominent lawyers, criticised the High Court judge for his remarks which were live streamed.
A lot of people are up in arms against the remarks of the judge and have resorted to social media to register their protest.
Indira Jaising wrote on X: “We call upon the Chief Justice of India to take suo moto action agsinst this judge and send him for gender sensitisation training.”
Sanjay Gose wrote on X: “A judge of an Indian Constitutional Court referring to fellow citizens of a different faith as Pakistani! Astonishing!”
