Karnataka HC slams Civil Judge involved in road rage incident, halts probe against 2

“The video would clearly indicate that the judicial officer has behaved in a manner totally unbecoming of the office that she holds,” said Justice M Nagaprasanna after watching the footage.

“Judicial office is a continuation of public trust, it is not only inside the courtroom, but it is behaviour outside the courtroom that would erode the confidence of the public or sustain the confidence. Every act of a judicial officer is discharge of official duties and is not confined to the four walls of the court hall but travels beyond the court hall when the interaction happens with the public,” the High Court added.

The bikers have challenged their arrest and the case against them before the High Court, contending that they overtook the private car of the civil judge, who was travelling with her husband. They alleged that the judge chased down their bike, stopped them and fought with them. The judicial officer then filed a complaint with the police under charges including wrongful restraint and criminal intimidation.

The High Court said it was “surprising” how the two bikers were arrested for the charges listed against them. “Merely because the complainant was a judicial officer, it would not mean that citizens are treated at the dictate of the judicial officer,” the court said.

“If this has enraged or hurt the ego of the judicial officer, nothing more can become a classic illustration of abuse of the office of the judicial officer,” Justice Nagaprasanna said, pausing any further investigation against the petitioners.

The court also directed the Registrar to place the interim order before the High Court Chief Justice for action against civil judge Gayatri.

The Bengaluru Advocates’ Association (ABB) has demanded action against the civil judge over allegations that she abused her official position and had a student assaulted after a separate road rage incident.

In a letter to Karnataka High Court Justice S R Krishnakumar, the lawyers’ body has said Gayatri should be suspended for allegedly summoning the police and having them detain the student. The video of the incident went viral.

“The recent incident of a judge of Malur by name Gayatri who was involved in a road rage with a common man has shocked the legal fraternity and public,” said the association, calling her conduct “inhuman”. “She got a case filed against the young boy and got a fine of Rs 17,000 against him levied. We request you to suspend the judge from service and take disciplinary action against her,” ABB president Vivek Subba Reddy said in the letter.