It was just another case,I was never under pressure,says Ganatra

Ganatra says this was one of three major judgments he has delivered since his appointment as a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) in 2000 in Bhuj.

Soon after pronouncing Friday’s judgment Ganatra wrote to the Ahmedabad police commissioner asking for security cover for three to four days. “I am neither scared nor do I think there is any danger. I asked for security cover just for precaution,” he said when asked whether he is facing any danger.

In an exclusive interview to The Indian Express,Ganatra said,“It was a complicated case,but I started reading the case papers since the day it was placed before me”.

On the judgment,Ganatra said,“I am not supposed to reveal what all it took to write the judgment. All I can say is that this (case) was just another case for me and I was never under any pressure.”

Ganatra started his career as lawyer after completing LLB from Junagadh College,Saurashtra University. He hails from Jetpur in Rajkot district. Instead of looking after his family business (saree manufacturing),Ganatra chose to practise law and went on to become judicial magistrate.

He has been with the Metropolitan Court for the past two years. In May this year,he was transferred by the Gujarat High Court. However,SIT approached the Supreme Court and said the transfer would delay proceedings as the new magistrate would hear the case afresh. Following this,the High Court was asked to revoke Ganatra’s transfer.