Contempt action against Karnataka ISKCON secretary

The high court has decided to proceed against the secretary of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Bangalore, Jai Chiatanya Das, and two counsels representing them, Ramesh Babu and Maruti Prasad, under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, in a suo motu case initiated by the high court.

Justice Manjula Chellur directed that proceedings be initiated against Jai Chiatanya Das and  Ramesh Babu and Maruti Prasad.

Justice Chellur held that provisions under the Contempt of Courts Act governing criminal contempt could be invoked.

The judge, however, absolved senior advocate SKV Chalapathi of contempt charges after considering his affidavit. The judge held that attempts to interfere with the administration of justice could not be ignored. “Courts are temples of justice. Their image can’t be allowed to be marred,” the judge observed.

On September 15, 2009, the high court had directed the initiation of suo motu contempt proceedings against Jai Chaitanya Das, secretary and Madhu Pandita Dasa, president of Bangalore ISKCON and four advocates representing them for drawing the judiciary into scandal.

It may be recalled that the main dispute was between ISKCON Mumbai and ISKCON Karnataka; ISKCON Mumbai claimed that the ‘Hare Krishna Hills’ belonged to it. The civil court, in a verdict on April 17, 2009, had directed that ISKCON Karnataka is an independent society and the property belongs to it.

ISKCON Mumbai filed an appeal in the high court, and that case was heard by justice KL Manjunath. In the course of hearing, justice Manjunath received a packet containing sensitive photographs, and the judge had said that the packet was sent by ISKCON Bangalore; this led to the filing of an application of recusal, with ISKCON Bangalore pleading that justice Manjunath be recused from hearing the case.

On receiving that application, justice Manjunath said that the application was tantamount to contempt, and filed a suo motu contempt case.