Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jan 28: Even as protests are held all over the state alleging that Raichur district principal and sessions judge of Raichur, Mallikarjuna Gowda, had insulted the father of the Indian constitution, Dr B R Ambedkar, by ordering removal of his photo at the time of the unfurling of the flag at the district courts complex here on Republic Day, the judge has given his clarification.

Judge in question, Mallikarjuna Gowda, said that he had not noticed whether the photo was kept or removed and that malicious propaganda is being spread about the episode accusing him.

K Shivana Gowda Nayaka, MLA and chairman of Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd, has demanded for the dismissal of the judge. Various organizations staged protests in different parts of the state on the issue. President of the Advocates Association Bangalore, Vivek Reddy, in a letter to the Chief Justice of the High Court, sought a detailed investigation into the incident.

Reacting to the media reports, high court registrar general, T G Shivashankare Gowda, said that a report will be obtained on the incident and the same will be scrutinized.