Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Jan 20: Joining the bandwagon of his brother judges, Justice K N Phaneendra and Justice Ram Mohan Reddy, Justice Kumar announced on Monday January 19 that he would be recusing himself from hearing an appeal preferred by Sri Raghaveshwara Bharathi Swamiji of Ramachandrapur Math, seeking cancellation of rape case registered against him. It may be recalled that the Swamiji has gone on appeal against the decision of the single judge bench of the high court, which had dismissed his petition seeking withdrawal of the rape case.
It may be recalled that Justice K N Phaneendra of the high court had withdrawn from hearing a petition filed by the Swamiji seeking cancellation of a notice served by criminal investigation department police asking him to appear for medical examination. On January 6 this year,Justice Ram Mohan Reddy, who was chairing a division bench along with Chief Justice, D H Waghela, had sought to recuse himself from hearing the case when it came up for hearing that day.
When the appeal filed by the Swamiji came before the division bench of which Justice Kumar was a part on on Monday, he announced his decision to stay away from hearing the case. As a result, the chief justice is faced with the task of transferring this case to another division bench. However, none of the judges have given reasons for seeking to excuse themselves from hearing cases involving Sri Raghaveshwara Bharathi Swamiji.