Supreme Court on Wednesday sought response of the Karnataka Government to a petition by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who has challenged the appointment of a new judge, to hear the disproportionate assets case pending against her in a Bangalore Court.
The 17-year-old trial against her and four others was at its fag end when the special public prosecutor in the case was abruptly removed. While Jayalalithaa challenged this action of the State till the apex court, the Special Judge hearing the case, superannuated on September 30.
The same day the apex court set aside the decision to remove the special prosecutor G Bhavani Singh, ensuring his continuation in the case. As regards the trial judge, the SC ordered the State to move a proposal for his extension and suggested the Karnataka High Court to consider granting such an extension in the interest of expeditious trial.
Jayalalithaa’s counsel informed the bench of Justices BS Chauhan and SA Bobde that the State committed contempt of the highest court’s order by not following this direction and instead appointed a new judge GB Mudigoudar on October 3. The bench issued notice to Karnataka Government posting the matter on November 15.