Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jun 12: Justice D V Shylendra Kumar, who was the first to public his assets and had passed critical comments against Chief Justice (CJ) of Karnataka High Court, P D Dinakaran, in the open court a few days back, again raised his voice at the functioning style of the CJ on Friday June 11.

After doubts were raised that the CJ was unnecessarily interfering with the hearing of an appeal relating to taxes, Justice Kumar became unhappy and questioned as to who had given powers to the CJ to interfere with the proceedings of the court. He also warned the registrars of the High Court that contempt of court suit would be filed against them if they fail to file a detailed report on this case by Monday June 14.

When Justice Kumar was functioning in the principal bench of the High Court, an appeal relating to taxes had been referred to his bench on March 4. The hearing in the matter had then been adjourned to March 8. Later, it was suddenly shifted to Dharwad circuit bench. Justice Kumar had requested the CJ to permit him to officiate in the principal bench for one day on march 8, to hear the said appeal, but it as declined.

After the appeal was transferred to the circuit bench, the case came back again to the principal bench here. Although date of the hearing had been fixed, it was not included in the proceedings. When Justice Kumar questioned the registrars about the issue, they said that they do not have any information about it, as the appeal is before the CJ.

Angered by this response, Justice Kumar commented that the CJ does not have power to interfere with the court work and questioned the CJ’s propriety in staying away from court proceedings, and continuing his interference with the justice delivery system.