Karnataka: Justice Ramesh to take charge as acting Chief Justice

BENGALURU: Probably for the first time in the history of state judiciary, a chief justice retired without a formal farewell from the state advocates’ association. 

Both the state and Bengaluru advocates' associations have been diligently continuing the practice of hosting send-offs for judges from the high court if he/she is transferred to another high court or to the Supreme Court or if they retire from service. But in the case of Justice S.K. Mukherjee, who retired as chief justice, it was an exception as the advocates' body has decided to give the tradition a miss this time.

Members of the advocates’ association have been expressing their dissatisfaction over the functioning of Justice Mukherjee as Chief Justice, who retired on Monday. On his last day, Justice Mukherjee heard at least 10 cases for about an hour. Senior advocates in the court hall wished Justice Mukherjee a peaceful retired life. Justice Mukherjee who was initially transferred to the Karnataka High Court as the senior-most judge in April 2015, was later appointed as Chief Justice in June 2015.

With the retirement of Justice Mukherjee, Justice H.G. Ramesh, who has been appointed as acting Chief Justice, is expected to take charge on Tuesday. 

Cyanide Mohan argues own case
In a rarity, a convict sentenced to death for murder and other charges, argued his own case before the High Court on Monday. Mohan Kumar alias Cyanide Mohan Kumar submitted that he is innocent and the prosecution has falsely implicated him in the cases.

The court was hearing his appeal against the death sentence. A lower court sentenced him to death after finding him guilty of raping and killing a woman in Bantwal using ‘cyanide’. There were several similar cases registered against him between 2004 and 2009. The High Court has adjourned the case.