Karnataka HC Judge who ordered CBI probe in Ishrat Jahan case quits

Karnataka High Court Justice Jayant M Patel

The senior most judge of the Karnataka High Court Justice Jayant M Patel has resigned close on the heels of the Supreme Court collegium ordering his transfer to the Allahabad high court. The resignation is perceived to be a result as an attempt to prevent Justice Patel from becoming the acting chief justice of Karnataka when the incumbent Justice S K Mukherjee retires on October 9.

The office of Justice at the Karnataka High Court confirmed that the judge had sent in his resignation. Justice Jayant Patel is best known as the judge who ordered a CBI investigation into the killing of Ishrat Jahan and three others in Gujarat when Narendra Modi was the chief minister.

Justice Patel, 61, was appointed to the Karnataka High Court on February 13, 2016 after serving as the acting chief justice of the Gujarat High Court from August 13, 2015 to February 2016. He is considered an upright judge by lawyers who have presented arguments in his court. “This decision to resign is clearly because of the way he has been treated. Knowing Justice Patel it is a serious decision that he has taken and is unlikely to now change his mind. He seems to have chosen to go on his own terms,’’ a senior advocate in the Karnataka High Court said.