SC gives Jaya 2 weeks to reply to K'taka govt affidavit

The Supreme Court on Friday gave another two weeks' time to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha to respond to the Karnataka government’s contention that the Bangalore special judge who had heard the disproportionate assets against her and retired on September 30 was not willing to continue on the post.

A two-judge bench, presided over by Justice B S Chauhan, allowed the plea made by counsel appearing on her behalf in this regard, even though the Karnataka government's advocate submitted that nothing survived in the matter.

Earlier too the court had given her time to file a rejoinder affidavit.

The AIADMK leader had approached the court seeking direction to quash the appointment of G B Mudigoudar in place of M S Balakrishna to hear the 17-year-old case against her.The state government counsel had submitted that Balakrishna had given in writing that he did not wish to continue to preside over the case.

In her petition, Jayalalitha had contended that the state government did not take into account the apex court’s order on September 30 last year asking the Karnataka High Court to consider on the administrative side if in order to conclude the trial expeditiously the judge could be granted extension and given contractual appointment.

The case pertains to Jayalalitha allegedly amassing of disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore between 1991 and 1996, when she was the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. The case was transferred to Bangalore in 2003.