SC takes suo motu cognizance after Karnataka HC judge refers to a locality in Bengaluru as Pakistan : Valley Vision

The Supreme Court on Friday sought a report from the Registrar General of the Karnataka High Court over social media clips showing a judge referring to a Muslim-majority locality in Bengaluru as ‘Pakistan’.

The action comes after an undated video clip of Justice Vedavyasachar Srishananda making Islamophobic remarks triggered outrage on social media.

According to journalist Mohammed Zubair, a month-old video shows Srishananda criticizing the cops referred to an area (Gori Palya) in Bengaluru as Pakistan. Gori Palya is a Muslim-majority locality.

Another video shows the judge reprimanding a woman lawyer for answering a question put to the counsel of the opposite party. The judge goes on to tell the woman lawyer in jest that she seems to know a lot about the opposite party, and that she might even reveal the colour of his undergarments next.

“The attention of the court has been drawn to media reports about certain comments which have been made by a judge of the Karnataka High Court, Justice Vedavyasachar Srishananda, during the contract of judicial proceedings. We have requested the learned Attorney General of India and the Solicitor General to assist this court,” a five-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrahud, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, Surya Kant, and Hrishikesh Roy ordered.

The Court also sought the assistance of Attorney General (AG) R Venkataramani and Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta in the matter, Bar and Bench reported.