Karnataka High Court
The Supreme Court today called for a report from the Karnataka High Court regarding controversial remarks made by Justice Vedavyasachar Srishananda during a recent hearing. While addressing a landlord-tenant dispute, Justice Srishananda referred to a Muslim-majority area in Bengaluru as “Pakistan” and made a misogynistic comment involving a woman lawyer.
A five-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, along with Justices S. Khanna, B.R. Gavai, S. Kant, and H. Roy, emphasized the need for clear guidelines for constitutional court judges concerning their remarks in court. The bench noted that with social media playing an active role in monitoring and amplifying courtroom proceedings, it is urgent to ensure that judicial commentary adheres to the decorum expected from courts of law.
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“Attention has been drawn to media reports regarding the comments made by Justice Srishananda during court proceedings. We request the Karnataka High Court to submit a report after consulting with the Chief Justice of the high court,” Chief Justice Chandrachud stated. “We may lay down some basic guidelines.”
Videos of Justice Srishananda’s remarks have gone viral on social media, prompting widespread public attention. In one clip, he labels a Muslim-dominated locality in Bengaluru as “Pakistan,” while in another, he makes inappropriate comments towards a woman lawyer. He remarked that she seemed to know so much about the “opposition party” that she might even be able to reveal the color of their undergarments.
The Supreme Court’s request for a report underscores the growing concern over judicial conduct and the importance of maintaining respect and professionalism in court proceedings.
