Jaya case: SC seeks Karnataka response on extension to judge

The Supreme Court Wednesday sought an explanation from the Karnataka High Court’s Registrar General and the state government whether they had considered its order for granting an extension to the special judge,who was hearing the corruption case against Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa.

A Bench of Justices B S Chauhan and S A Bobde issued notice to the Registrar and the Karnataka government and posted the matter for November 15 for hearing on the petition filed by the Jayalalithaa. The special judge had retired on September 30 and the new judge took over the proceedings on October 3. Jayalalithaa then moved the court to get the appointment of the new judge quashed. She contended the state government did not take into account the court’s September 30 order to consider an extension of tenure of the retiring judge.While deciding on the AIADMK leader’s plea to grant an extension to the previous judge,the the apex court had on September 30 noted that the state government,in consultation with the HC,was competent to appoint the judge on contractual basis after his retirement for the period required to conclude the present trial.

The Bench had exempted Jayalalithaa from personal appearance before the Bangalore court,where she is being tried in a 17-year-old corruption case. The case relates to alleged amassing of disproportionate assets by Jayalalithaa to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore during 1991 and 1996.