25 september 2024 : The Supreme Court has closed proceedings it initiated against a Karnataka High Court judge for controversial remarks made during recent judicial proceedings. The judge referred to a Muslim-majority area in Bengaluru, Gori Palya, as “Pakistan,” prompting the Supreme Court to emphasize that “no one can call any part of India as Pakistan,” as it undermines the nation’s territorial integrity. A five-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, highlighted the importance of decorum and restraint from judges, especially in an era where court proceedings are often live-streamed and closely monitored.
While the bench acknowledged the judge’s “contrite apology” made during an open court proceeding on September 21, it deemed that the “interest of justice” and respect for the high court warranted closing the suo motu matter. However, it cautioned that “casual observations” by judges could reveal individual bias, especially when aimed at specific genders or communities. The bench stressed that judges must modulate their behavior to maintain an appearance of fairness and impartiality.
The Supreme Court had previously ordered the Karnataka High Court registry to report on two videos showing Judge Vedavyasachar Srishananda making inappropriate comments during hearings. One clip featured the judge calling Gori Palya “Pakistan,” while another included inappropriate remarks directed at a woman advocate. These videos, which circulated widely on social media, sparked significant backlash from legal professionals and the public. Notable lawyers, including Indira Jaising and Sanjoy Ghose, criticized the judge’s conduct and underscored the need for appropriate judicial behavior, especially in the age of live-streaming.
On September 21, Judge Srishananda stated in court that his comments were unintentional and taken out of context, expressing regret for any offense caused. Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court has issued an interim order preventing public and social media platforms from sharing its live-streamed court proceedings. This order came in response to a petition from the Advocates’ Association, Bengaluru (AAB), which argued that the edited videos were being shared contrary to the Karnataka Rules on Live-Streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings, 2021.