The Iskcon tussle took a new turn on Wednesday with advocate general Ashok Haranahalli according consent to prosecute Jai Chaitanya Das, Madhu Pandita Das and Chanchalapati Das, all belonging to Iskcon, Bangalore, on criminal contempt charges.
Iskcon, Mumbai, filed an application seeking the AG's consent to prosecute, based on allegations by Iskcon, Bangalore, that Justice K L Manjunath, heading the Bench hearing the appeal, is biased.
"The sequence of events and the nature of allegations prima facie constitute contempt. If such things are allowed, it will bring the judiciary to disrepute and the parties will make unfounded allegations against Judges with the object of getting the matter posted before a judge of their choice. The allegations against Justice K L Manjunath are nothing but interference with administration of justice and tend to lower the authority of court," the advocate general opined. He, however, refused to give consent for contempt proceedings against other office-bearers and the lawyers representing Iskcon, Bangalore.
The division bench headed by Justice Manjunath is hearing an appeal filed by Iskcon, Mumbai, challenging the April 17 verdict of a lower court that the property at Hare Krishna Hills in Rajajinagar belongs to Iskcon, Bangalore. The appellants have argued that there is only one Iskcon and the Bangalore unit is a branch.
