Karnataka HC raps judicial officer for road rage behaviour

The Karnataka High Court has pulled up a judicial officer over her conduct in an alleged road rage incident, observing that CCTV footage prima facie showed behaviour 'wholly unbecoming' of a member of the judiciary. The court also raised concerns over the alleged misuse of official position to initiate criminal proceedings against citizens.

Justice M Nagaprasanna, hearing a petition on Wednesday, viewed CCTV footage that allegedly showed principal civil judge Gayathri of Malur and her husband engaging in a verbal altercation with two-wheeler riders after they overtook the couple's car. The court noted the judicial officer's ego appeared hurt, leading to a chase and squabble captured on CCTV. The state public prosecutor submitted that at the instance of the judicial officer, a 70-year-old man was also taken into custody.

The court observed that a judicial officer's conduct outside the courtroom can either erode or sustain public confidence in the institution. It passed an interim order staying further proceedings against the petitioners and directed the Registry to place the order before the Chief Justice for further action against the judicial officer.