Furore in HC over letter to judge

A letter sent to Justice K L Manjunath, senior judge of the Karnataka High Court, questioning his credentials  caused a furore in the courtroom on Friday.

The letter alleged a proximity between him and the ISKCON, Bangalore and questioned him hearing the matter.

 During the hearing of an appeal by ISKCON, Mumbai, challenging the lower court order declaring ISKCON Bangalore as the absolute owner of its temple here, Justice Manjunath spoke about the letter and a photograph, which were sent in the name of Jayapathaka Swamy Shishya Samuha, ISKCON, Mumbai.

The photograph showed him receiving a picture of Lord Krishna as a gift from ISKCON, Bangalore, during his visit to the temple in 2003, and the letter mentioned that he should not take up the case as he is closely associated with ISKCON, Bangalore. The letter said, copies had been sent to the HC  Chief Justice, Chief Justice of India and the fourth estate.

An unhappy Justice Manjunath observed, “It is nothing but an attempt to scandalise the judge and judiciary. It is done with an intention to bring down the reputation of judiciary. I will not budge to this kind of blackmailing tactics of the parties.”

“The letter has questioned my integrity. The respondent ISKCON, Bangalore should make its stand clear about the letter and photograph by filing an affidavit. What has happened to this court shall not be repeated in other courts,” justice Manjunath said.

He said he used to visit the temple as a devotee until 2003 and stopped thereafter due to several doubts. “This should not happen to the innocent devotees visiting temples,” he said.

Regarding the gift, he said that even the administrative officers at Kollur gifted him with a pendant of the deity during his visit to the temple, but he had issued a judgement against them after a month. Udaya Holla, former Advocate General and counsel for  ISKCON, Mumbai, submitted that his client is totally unaware about the letter. “The respondent (ISKCON, Bangalore) might have sent the same to you in their name. The photograph was taken in ISKCON, Bangalore. How could we (Mumbai ISKCON) access the photograph?” Holla asked.

ISKCON, Bangalore had filed a suit in the lower court seeking to restrain ISKCON Mumbai from interfering in its affairs.