Two more judges recuse from hearing seer's case

Two more judges of the High Court recused from hearing the case related to Ramachandrapura Mutt’s seer Raghaveshwara Bharthi, booked on the charge of raping a Ramakatha singer.

On Thursday, when the matter came for hearing before a division bench
comprising Justice H G Ramesh and Justice Pawan Kumar Bhajantri, both the judges recused to hear the matter.

Justice H G Ramesh said that when he was an advocate, he had practised under the guidance of senior counsel B V Acharya and it would not be right to hear the matter as the latter was appearing for the seer. Justice Ramesh even asked Advocate General Ravivarma Kumar if it was right on his part to continue the case knowing that Acharya had been his senior. Justice Bhajantri too said that he will not hear the matter and recused himself.

However, the AG said that it was upto the discretion of the judge. Justice Ramesh is the fourth judge to have recused to hear the writ appeal filed by the seer seeking quashing of FIR against him. Previously, Justice K N Phaneendra, Justice Ram Mohan Reddy and Justice N Kumar had rescued.