The Karnataka government today sought the Union Law Ministry's intervention to end what it described as an "unpleasant stalemate" in the state high court in the wake of Chief Justice P D Dinkaran, facing land grab charges, staying away from the bench.
Karnataka Law Minister S Suresh Kumar has shot off a letter to Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily, stating that the high court was functioning without a chief justice for the past eight months and sought an end to the 'stalemate'.
"What we are facing today is an unprecedented piquant situation. Chief Justice of Karnataka is not officiating since November last year, following agitation by the advocates here which unfortunately turned violent", he said.
"I am again hearing murmurs of dissatisfaction from among the advocate fraternity. The situation has reached a stage where neither honourable judges nor advocates or citizens of the state are happy about this unfortunate state of affairs. The whole episode is leaving a bad taste amid everyone here," Suresh Kumar said.
The letter comes in the wake of recent outburst in the open court by Justice D V Shylendra Kumar, known for his outspoken views on judiciary, who questioned Dinakaran's continued absence from the bench. Justice Shylendra Kumar had consistently attacked Dinakaran, against whom impeachment proceedings are pending in Rajya Sabha, over his continuing to discharge administrative functions while being away from the Bench following the land grab charges against him.
{{/usCountry}}The letter comes in the wake of recent outburst in the open court by Justice D V Shylendra Kumar, known for his outspoken views on judiciary, who questioned Dinakaran's continued absence from the bench. Justice Shylendra Kumar had consistently attacked Dinakaran, against whom impeachment proceedings are pending in Rajya Sabha, over his continuing to discharge administrative functions while being away from the Bench following the land grab charges against him.
{{/usCountry}}"Of late, an unbelievable and unwarranted situation of vitiation of a once healthy relationship among judges is also brewing which does not augur too well for the well being of the society. All this has resulted in lowering the image of judiciary in our state," Suresh Kumar said.
According to the minister, he had spoken to Moily thrice to find an early solution to end the impasse. "Before further damage is done, it is our duty to take necessary steps to restore the glory of Karnataka High Court again," he said.