Supreme Court seeks report on Karnataka judge's controversial 'Pakistan' remarks

The Supreme Court on Friday took note of a controversial remark made by Karnataka High Court judge Justice Vedavyasachar Srishananda during a recent hearing. The judge allegedly referred to a Muslim-majority area in Bengaluru as "Pakistan" and made a misogynistic comment involving a female advocate during a landlord-tenant dispute.

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A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, and Hima Kohli, expressed concerns over the remarks and the need for judicial decorum. Chief Justice Chandrachud underscored the importance of appropriate behavior by constitutional court judges, especially given the increasing scrutiny from social media platforms, which often amplify courtroom proceedings.

“Attention has been drawn to media reports about the comments made by a Karnataka High Court judge during proceedings. We request the High Court to submit a report after obtaining instructions from the Chief Justice of Karnataka,” said Chief Justice Chandrachud.

The bench stressed the urgency of ensuring that judicial comments are in line with the standards of courtroom conduct. It also highlighted the necessity of establishing clear guidelines for judges to prevent similar incidents in the future. The court’s decision comes amid rising concerns about the public perception of judicial independence and propriety.