Karnataka - Bangalore

Proceedings against professor dropped

Staff Reporter

HIGH COURTROUND-UP

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday dropped criminal proceedings initiated against a 69-year-old professor from Tamil Nadu for making scandalous allegations against judges of the High Court and Supreme Court.

A Division Bench headed by Justice V. Gopala Gowda dropped the contempt of court proceedings initiated against P.N. Shetty of Coimbatore, after considering his age and unconditional apology tendered by him.

Observing that although the allegations made by Mr. Shetty were scurrilous and serious in nature, which warranted punishment, the judges said they would like to put an end to the proceedings by showing forgiveness and generosity.

The court issued a strict warning to him not to repeat such acts in future. "This order will not serve as a precedent," it said.

Prof. Shetty had made allegations in a letter to the court even as a case was pending. The court showed mercy on him, saying that it accepted his contriteness although he had delayed tendering the unconditional apology after pleading not guilty at the initial stage of proceedings.

The judges said the courts, while dealing with such cases, cannot be punitive or vindictive but objective as such proceedings not only deal with the accused but also the public at large in the interest of society.

Saying that it did not find any ulterior motive behind the allegations, the Bench said its mercy was always available to the really contrite.

Committee likely

The High Court on Wednesday said it will constitute a committee to be headed by a retired High Court judge to look into the infrastructure in the Basaveshwara Medical College, Chitradurga.

Justice N. Kumar gave this indication while dealing with the petitions filed by several students who were admitted to the MBBS course during 2001.

The students have sought transfer to other colleges as their college was derecognised by the Medical Council of India.

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