Karnataka: House vents ire against judiciary

BENGALURU: The judiciary came in for a drubbing in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday with members cutting across party lines taking strong objection to a circular issued by it prohibiting judicial officers from sharing the dais with legislators at public events. A few even described judicial officers as "a sort of Constitutional terrorists."

Initiating the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address, Congress member, K N Rajanna, observed caustically, "When it comes to modernisation of its buildings and infrastructure the judiciary depends on the government, but at their inauguration it does not want its officers to share the dais with the people's representatives as it feels all  legislators have criminal backgrounds."

Agreeing, former Law Minister , Suresh Kumar  recalled that a police constable had visited his house for a background check before a court complex was inaugurated in Holalkere. “Although my name was written outside my house, he wanted to know my name and my father's and if I had any criminal background.

“I called up the then DG and IGP and complained him about the incident and brought it to the notice of the then Chief Minister also,'' he recounted.

 Accusing the  judiciary of interfering in government work, Mr Shivalinge Gowda of the JDS said, "The judges get government works cleared, but  they do not want to share a dais with us.

“Judicial officers draw a good salary and buy two or three sites, including  G-category ones. But they give judgments against legislators, who get G-category sites too. A retired Supreme Court Chief Justice himself has said that over 10 per cent of judges are corrupt."

Opposition leader , Jagadish Shettar interrupted to say  the former Chief Justice had said around 50 per cent of judges were corrupt and urged  the government to ensure that the judiciary withdrew its circular against sharing a dais with politicians at public events.

Recalling that a Karnataka High Court judge had collapsed in a jewellery shop when he was supposed to be in court at the time,  Mr Sa Ra Mahesh of the Janata Dal S regretted that no one had questioned  his presence in the store during court hours. Speaker K B Koliwad said the government would clarify the issues raised by the members in its reply.