SC expresses displeasure over judge’s remarks terming Muslim locality in Bengaluru as Pakistan

New Delhi, Sep 25: The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday expressed displeasure of remarks made by Karnataka High Court judge Justice V Srishananda, who referred to a Muslim-majority locality in Bengaluru as "Pakistan" during court proceedings.

The apex court stressed that such comments were inappropriate and warned judges to avoid letting personal biases influence their judicial conduct. Bar & Bench reported on the matter.

A five-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, and Hrishikesh Roy, voiced concern over the impact of judicial comments on public perception. “We cannot call any part of the territory of India as Pakistan because that fundamentally is contrary to the territorial integrity of the nation,” the Bench observed.

The Court also issued a broader warning to both judges and lawyers, urging them to be cautious with their words and avoid making remarks that reflect personal biases, especially in a time when social media amplifies the reach of courtroom statements.

“This casual observation may indicate personal biases, especially when perceived to be directed at a certain gender or community. Thus, one must be wary of making patriarchal or misogynistic comments. We express our serious concern about observations on a certain gender or a community, and such observations are liable to be construed in a negative light,” the Bench said.

The Supreme Court took note of the fact that Justice Srishananda had apologised for his statements and proceeded to close the suo motu case that had been initiated after two videos of the judge went viral on social media. In one video, Justice Srishananda was seen referring to the locality as "Pakistan," while in another, he made inappropriate remarks to a woman lawyer, suggesting in jest that she might reveal personal details about the opposite party's undergarments.

Acknowledging the apology, the Court emphasised the need for judges to be mindful of their predispositions and how their remarks can affect public confidence in the judiciary. It highlighted the increasing visibility of courtroom proceedings, especially with the widespread use of live-streaming and video conferencing.

“In the era of social media, any observations by judges can have a wide impact. The prevalence and reach of social media now mean that court proceedings are widely reported, and thus judges should be aware of their predispositions to ensure justice is delivered impartially,” the Bench said. It further said that the only guiding values for judicial decision-making must be those enshrined in the Constitution as reported by Bar and Bench.