SC pulls up K'taka for lawyer-media clash

The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the Karnataka government for failing to set up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe into the March 2, 2012, tripartite clash among lawyers, police and journalists in Bangalore.

A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice P Sathasivam indicated that it could hand over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

“In the interest of all, we are saying since persons involved are advocates, the police and media people, we can entrust the entire investigation to the CBI. If you want, we can monitor and direct the state government and others to cooperate with the investigating agency,” the bench, also comprising justices Ranjana P Desai and Ranjan Gogoi, said.

The apex court made the observation while reserving its order on a special leave petition filed by the Advocates Association, Bangalore, challenging the Karnataka High Court’s May 16 order to set up an SIT to probe into the incident.

Senior advocate K V Viswanathan, representing the Karnataka government, raised a strong objection to allegations made by the petitioner in a interlocutory application. It was alleged that the SIT was not formed due to “extraneous consideration.”

Describing the language as “absolutely uncalled for,” he submitted that a new government had taken over the charges and it was looking into the matter. He also pointed out that the CBI had claimed that it was overburdened.

The court, however, remained unconvinced.

“It was an unfortunate incident involving advocates, the police and media. One year and six months have passed but the SIT could not start work,” the court said.

Order questioned

It even questioned the order passed by the apex court’s two-judge bench to reconstitute the SIT by including officers from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, terming it “impracticable.”

“How can you ask officers from Kerala and Tamil Nadu to come and sit in Bangalore for a week,” the bench asked.

The apex court on October 19 replaced the SIT headed by former CBI director R K Raghavan with a fresh committee. It was directed to submit a report within three months.
As many as 191 First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered after the incident.