The Supreme Court Tuesday exempted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa from personal appearance before a Bangalore court,where she is being tried in a corruption case. A Bench of Justices B S Chauhan and S A Bobde dispensed with her appearance before a new special judge,appointed by the Karnataka government on October 3,after the retirement of the previous judge. Jayalalithaa has moved the court to get the appointment of the new judge qua-shed. She has contended that the state government did not take into account the courts September 30 order to the government for considering extension to the previous judge. While deciding on the AIADMK leaders plea to grant an extension to the previous judge,the the apex court had on September 30 noted that the state government,in consultation with the High Court was competent to appoint the judge on contractual basis after his retirement for the period required to conclude the present trial. The state government and the High Court have treated the orders of this court with utter disdain. In fact they have made a mockery of the orders of this court. There was no reflection in the decision (of appointment of judge) that it had considered the order of the apex court, senior advocate Shekhar Naphade,representing Jayalalithaa,said. The court,however,told the counsel that the petition did not point out the details whether or not the HC considered extension for the previous judge. It granted him a days time to bring on record such details and put the matter for hearing Wednesday. The case relates to amassing of disproportionate assets by Jayalalithaa to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore during 1991 and 1996 when she was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
