Chief Justice Asserts ‘No Part of India Can Be Called Pakistan’ in Response to Judge’s Controversial Remark

Chief Justice Asserts ‘No Part of India Can Be Called Pakistan’ in Response to Judge’s Controversial Remark

The proceedings against Karnataka High Court Justice V. Srishananda have been wrapped up by the Supreme Court of India. This comes after the judge issued an apology for comments he made while on the bench—which means there is no need to continue any further, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud explained to a five-member panel, which included himself: “We don’t want anybody to think that we are doing this case (just) because it is about one of us.”

During a recent hearing about a landlord-tenant dispute, Justice Srishananda made comments that caused concern. While talking about an area in Bengaluru with mostly Muslim residents, he called it “Pakistan.” He also said rude things about a female lawyer that were sexist. People on social media quickly noticed what he had said and started sharing these remarks widely.

Because of this outcry online, which included calls for action against the judge, India’s Supreme Court asked why exactly his words should not be considered an insult to part(s) territory within our boundaries, such as Pakistan, which has been submitted a report from the Karnataka High Court soon after. “Nobody can say any part of India’s territory belongs to Pakistan,” noted Chief Justice Chandrachud. “The answer to something shown by sunlight is more things shown by sunlight—not fewer things.”

The subject was picked up by the Supreme Court, which led to a discussion on whether constitutional judges should have clear guidelines about making comments in court. Five judges said on September 20 that they were worried about remarks showing personal bias—especially against one sex or community. Relatedly: “We are concerned when some observation appears from casual conversation.

We have a serious view when remarks are made on any particular community or gender because it can be seen negatively,” Chief Justice of India S. A. Bobde told lawyers present, adding he hoped everyone involved would “fully discharge their responsibility(ies) with fair behavior and circumspection.”

It is essential that judges’ statements match courtroom etiquette, judges stressed. This is particularly important nowadays because proceedings are widely followed and discussed on social media: clips of Justice Srishananda making contentious remarks have been circulating on the internet.

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In one video he called a neighborhood in Bengaluru with a large Muslim population “Pakistan”; in another he questioned a female lawyer’s understanding of the Congress party and also her knowledge of its members’ underwear, implying she may be familiar with these details because she has defended some of them.