During an August 28 hearing in a landlord-tenant case, Justice V Srishananda of the Karnataka High Court stirred controversy by making remarks that appeared to reflect a bias against the Muslim community.
Referring to a Muslim-majority area near Bengaluru’s Mysore Road Flyover as “Pakistan,” his comments have sparked outrage and debate over perceived prejudice within the judiciary, The Indian Express reported.
A video of the remarks has circulated widely on social media, amplifying concerns about communal bias in the country.
The case, initially focused on legal provisions of the Rent Control Act, soon expanded to unrelated issues such as traffic violations and law enforcement inefficacy. Justice Srishananda criticised the police for failing to act on overcrowded autorickshaws and the use of scooters carrying more passengers than permitted, particularly in private school transport. Despite previous accidents involving children, he noted, no action had been taken.
It was in this context that the judge made the contentious reference to the Muslim-majority area, implying it was akin to being outside India. The statement, although framed within a broader discussion about lawlessness, carried undertones that many interpreted as reflective of deep-seated bias against the Muslim community. His remarks have drawn sharp criticism, with questions raised about the neutrality expected from the judiciary.
The episode has reignited conversations about communal bias and discrimination in India, with critics pointing to this incident as yet another instance of marginalisation of minority communities.
As of now, there has been no official response from the judiciary regarding the judge’s remarks, but the controversy continues to grow, raising questions about the role of language and prejudice in shaping societal attitudes