BANGALORE: In a show of support to Karnataka High Court Justice K L Manjunath, the All India Bar Association (AIBA) on Thursday hit out against “vested interests that are trying to prevent his elevation as Chief Justice” of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended Justice Manjunath’s name for the post. But it was sent back by the Centre after a Supreme Court judge who had served in the Karnataka High Court wrote an adverse note against Manjunath. The collegium has recommended his name once again.
“Baseless allegations are being made against Justice Manjunath, who has over 14 years of experience in the judiciary. Those who are against his elevation should come out with relevant documents instead of indulging in inconspicuous attacks,” AIBA Vice-Chairman S L Bhoje Gowda said.
“I would go a step further to say that the allegations should be probed by the CBI and if there is any wrongdoing, the judge has to be punished. But we don’t approve of unfounded remarks and allegations on a senior judge,” he said.
Gowda said the AIBA and the Karnataka Bar Association would not allow “vested interests to succeed with their agenda,” and that all lawyers would stand by Justice Manjunath.
A few weeks ago, senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan demanded an inquiry against Justice Manjunath saying that there was “enough evidence for his impeachment.”
Open Letter
The AIBA has written an open letter to President Pranab Mukherjee expressing ‘deep anguish’ over the remarks made by Press Council of India Chairperson Markandey Katju on the appointment of the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
On Justice Katju’s view that the CJI should be selected on the basis of merit and not seniority, AIBA Chairman Adish C Aggarwala stated: “Legal history of India bears witness to the fact that as a convention, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court has been appointed as the Chief Justice. Justice Katju has tried to cast aspersions on the integrity and merit of some incumbents of the posts...”
In a blog post in July, Justice Katju sparked off a controversy by stating that a corrupt judge with political backing had been given an extension and a permanent post in 2004.
Aggarwala has written that the seniority was superseded on two occasions - in 1973 and 1977 - and there was extensive criticism to this by the judiciary and the Bar. “What stopped Katju from naming the judge? It only goes to show that he has a hidden agenda,” he said.