A City court on Thursday dismissed a defamation suit filed against Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph in which damages to the tune of Rs 1,111 crore were claimed. The court dismissed the suit as the complainant was not present for the second consecutive day in the court.
A city-based advocate, Mr  Keshavan V Challam,  stated in the suit that the remark made by the CJ at a function in Chikmagalur in October was defamatory in nature and hence the damages ought to be paid. The CJ had allegedly stated that advocates are responsible for corruption in the judiciary.
Ban on arrack
A petition challenging the ban on arrack has been filed in the HC. It challenges the ban which comes into force on July 1, also known as the Excise New Year.
The petition, filed by the Arrack Contractors Workers’ Union, stated that the ban would deprive them of their livelihood.
Rise in crime
The High Court on Thursday treated as closed a suo motu public interest litigation on the rise in crime particularly against women in Bangalore city.
The HC had treated a letter written by Justice S R Bannur Math as a suo motu PIL in the wake of the horrific Prathibha murder case.
When the matter came up on Thursday the court expressed satisfaction on the steps taken by the police regarding security for women.