Justice Sandesh: I am going to protect the independence of the judiciary at the cost of my judgeship

“I am going to protect the independence of the judiciary at the cost of my judgeship,” said Justice HP Sandesh after he got an indirect threat of transfer

Pictured: Justice HP Sandesh | Image Credits: High Court of Karnataka

Justice HP Sandesh of Karnataka High Court made an appalling disclosure regarding an indirect threat of transfer he received for monitoring certain cases under the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) established by the State.

A sitting High Court Judge informed Justice HP Sandesh that certain individuals had approached him regarding the transfer.

It is being speculated that it has to do with the matter which was being heard when the Hon'ble Justice made this shocking revelation.

The matter pertains to the accused, PS Mahesh (Deputy Tehsildar) allegedly accepting a bribe of INR 5 Lakh to settle a land dispute by getting a favourable order from the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

The Court had directed the ACB to submit the relevant materials concerning the above case on June 29th. However, no submission was made.

"Why you have not arrested him (Deputy Commissioner), that question I am asking you(ACB). You people are protecting such people and not placing material before Court”

He then remarked, “You are here to protect the culprits or for the general public? You being an Advocate of ACB, which is constituted to prevent corruption, you are here to protect the people who are tainted and at the helm of affairs or you are appointed as special counsel to prevent corruption or not.”

The Judge then compared corruption to cancer by stating, “Special enactment is brought into force with an intention to prevent corruption. It is spreading in the whole society like cancer, instead of preventing it from reaching the fourth stage which is not curable, at first or second stage it should be cured,”

After the above statement he shed light on the indirect transfer threat by mentioning,

"Your ADGP so powerful (unclear). Some persons spoke to one of our High Court judges. and sat with me and he said giving an example of transferring of one of the judge to some other district. I will not hesitate to mention the name of the judge also! He came and sat by the side of me and there is a threat to this court..”

However, Justice HP Sandesh in the same breath asserted that he was ready to pay with his judgeship if that is the price for protecting the independence of the judiciary. He said, “I am going to protect the independence of the judiciary at the cost of my judgeship"

Thereafter the matter was posted for the post-lunch session, where Advocate General Prabhling K Navadgi appeared before the Court and assured that relevant records will be placed before the court and sought time. The Court granted three days for the same and posted the case for hearing on July 7.

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