The Karnataka High Court has stayed criminal proceedings against three individuals accused in a road rage case after expressing serious concern over the conduct of the complainant, a judicial officer, and directing that the matter be placed before the Chief Justice for appropriate consideration.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna, while hearing a petition filed by the accused, viewed CCTV footage of the incident and observed that it prima facie depicted conduct “wholly unbecoming” of a member of the judiciary. The court also questioned the apparent use of official position to trigger criminal action against private citizens.
Court Questions Circumstances Leading To Criminal Case
According to the court’s observations, the complainant, Principal Civil Judge and JMFC Gayathri of Malur, was travelling in her private car with her husband when two men riding a motorcycle overtook their vehicle. The order records that the couple then allegedly chased the motorcycle, intercepted it, and became involved in a verbal altercation that was captured on CCTV footage.
After viewing the footage, the court observed that the confrontation appeared to have arisen because the judicial officer or her husband felt offended by the overtaking incident.
Bench Raises Concern Over Arrest Of Elderly Accused
The State Public Prosecutor informed the court that only two accused persons had been travelling on the motorcycle. However, the court noted that a 70-year-old man was also made an accused and taken into custody at the instance of the judicial officer.
Justice Nagaprasanna questioned how the petitioners had been taken into custody in the circumstances of the case merely because the complainant held judicial office. The court observed that citizens could not be treated in such a manner at the dictate of a judicial officer.
Conduct Outside Courtroom Also Matters, Says High Court
The High Court emphasised that judicial office is a continuing public trust and is not confined to the courtroom. It observed that a judge’s conduct in public is capable of strengthening or undermining public confidence in the justice delivery system.
The court further stated that the duties and responsibilities associated with judicial office extend beyond court premises and continue whenever judicial officers interact with members of the public.
Referring to the CCTV footage, Justice Nagaprasanna observed that it was prima facie inappropriate for a judicial officer to step out of a vehicle and engage in a public quarrel with a citizen whose alleged act was overtaking the officer’s car. The order also remarked that the incident appeared to present a classic illustration of abuse of judicial office.
Proceedings Stayed; Matter Referred To Chief Justice
Pending further consideration, the High Court stayed the investigation and all further proceedings against the petitioners.
The Registry was also directed to place the order before the Chief Justice for further action in relation to the judicial officer concerned.
