Online petition seeks removal of sitting Karnataka High Court Judge Petitioner disturbed at comments made by Justice Bhaktavatsala in open court

An online petition addressed to the Chief Justice of India has sought to remove Justice Bhaktavatsala, a sitting judge of the Karnataka High Court. The petition is a result of media reports highlighting some of the comments made by the Judge, comments which were made while hearing matrimonial disputes in open court. The petition states that such comments are shocking and perpetuate the “myth of patriarchy” and “are unconstitutional”..An online petition addressed to the Chief Justice of India has sought to remove Justice Bhaktavatsala, a sitting judge of the Karnataka High Court. The petition is a result of media reports highlighting some of the comments made by the Judge, comments which were made while hearing matrimonial disputes in open court. The petition states that such comments are shocking and perpetuate the “myth of patriarchy” and “are unconstitutional”..According to an article published in the Bangalore Mirror, on August 31, 2012, a Bench of Justices BS Indrakala and Bhaktavatsala were hearing a matrimonial dispute relating to the alleged desertion of a wife. The wife had stated that she had been physically abused by her husband..It was while hearing the matter, that Justice Bhaktavatsala made the following remarks:.“Women suffer in all marriages. You are married with two children, and know what it means to suffer as a woman.………. Why are you still talking about his beatings? I know you have undergone pain. But that is nothing in front of what you undergo as a woman. I have not undergone such pain. But madam (Justice BS Indrakala) has.”.When the wife’s counsel produced photographic evidence of the physical abuse suffered by the wife, the Judge remarked,.“You have to adjust. Are you just behind money? There is nothing in your case to argue on merits. You have to give him a divorce or go with him. Have you read about actor Darshan. He spent 30 days in jail after beating his wife. But they are living together now. What is on your mind and what is on your agenda?”.When the wife pleaded that the husband would beat her in full public view, Justice Bhaktavatsala is reported to have told the wife that it was the wife who was responsible for “bringing it out in the open”..The online petition observes that this is not an “isolated case” where Justice Bhaktavatsala has made such remarks in open court. While hearing arguments from a woman lawyer, the Judge allegedly asked the lawyer whether she was married. When the lawyer answered in the negative, the Judge allegedly told the lawyer that she was “unfit to argue this case” and advised the lawyer to “better get married” so that she would “[have] very good experience to argue such cases”..Justice Bhaktavatsala, born in 1952, completed his graduation from SJR College in Bangalore and went on to receive his LLM from University Law College, Nagpur. He enrolled as an advocate in Bangalore in 1980, appearing before various courts. He was recruited to the Higher Judicial Service in 1988, serving as District and Sessions Judge before eventually being made an Additional Judge of the Karnataka High Court in 2002. He was made a permanent judge on July 17, 2004..A copy of the petition is available here..Photo Coutesy: Karnataka High Court