HC says it has no visiting card of man who tried to bribe CJ

Top judge had showed the card in open court on July 5

 The visiting card of the person who offered bribe to Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukhrejee does not exist, the Karnataka High Court has said in a reply to an RTI query.

On July 5, 2016,  the chief justice made a disclosure in the open court that a Bengali-speaking man visited his official residence and offered a bribe to write an order in favour of Umrah Developers. Justice Mukherjee had said that the man had written the serial number of the revision petition filed by Umrah Developers on his (visitor’s) business card. The chief justice had showed the business card in the open court.

However, in the reply given to the RTI application by S Bhaskaran, the Public Information Officer of the High Court has stated, “As per the information available in this office, there is no visiting card/business card related to the High Court case of Umrah Developers, Bengaluru, on the record and furnishing the certified copy of the visiting card/business card, does not arise.''

Bhaskaran, an RTI activist, in his application had sought, “Certified copy of the visiting card/business card produced by Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee with regard to him recusing/refusing to conduct hearing relating to the High Court case of Umrah Developers, Bengaluru.''

Bhaskaran said the reply under the RTI only states that the writ petition pertaining to Umrah Developers does not have any visiting card on record.

“I had particularly asked for the visiting card of the person who had met the Chief Justice at his official residence. I would say that my application seeking a copy of the visiting card, which the CJ showed in the open court on July 5, should have been transferred to the person concerned as per section 6 (3) of the RTI Act, 2005. According to newspaper reports, the CJ had not only showed the visiting card in the open court but also asked the senior advocate representing the Umrah Developers to collect a copy of it if he wanted. In that case, where is the visiting card now,'' Bhaskaran asked.

Bhaskaran had also sought footage of CCTVs at the Chief Justice's official residence on Palace Road, from July 1 to July 5. The Deputy Registrar of the High Court had replied that CCTV is not installed in the residence of the Chief Justice.