Katju’s Challenge: Impeach Dattu or Jail me for Contempt

Krishnaraj Rao for BeyondHeadlines

In the face of continuous provocation by Markandeya Katju, why is Chief Justice Dattu silent and passive? if there is no substance in the retired SC judge’s allegations, why isn’t any action being taken against him? Why no Contempt of Court so far?

Through his blog, http://justicekatju.blogspot.in/, Katju has been continually baiting Dattu, the establishment and also mainstream journalists for not investigating the issue based on his documents.

It is easy to write this off as Katju’s attention-seeking behaviour. But let us look deeper. His allegations are that the Chief Justice of India is a blatantly corrupt man who has amassed wealth by currying favour with the government, and by breaking laws. Can we as a nation afford to take such allegations lightly?

If these allegations are true, impeach the Chief Justice of India. And if they are frivolous and unsubstantiated, then haul Katju (along with other critics like myself) over the coals. Let justice be seen to be done!

“There are a large number of plots in or near Bangalore purchased in the name of Justice Dattu’s wife Gayathri. Photocopies of the sale deeds by which they were purchased are in the dossier. These sale deeds mention the name of Justice Dattu’s wife Gayathri, but interestingly enough describe her as daughter of Guravayoor (probably her father’s name), and not wife of Justice Dattu. This is strange, since the plots were purchased long after her marriage. Was this done to conceal these transactions?” writes Markandeya Katju, retired Supreme judge, in his blog Satyam Bruyat.

The land was bought by H.L. Dattu in violation of property law that disqualifies a person with family income of over Rs. 2 lacs per year, from buying land in the rural areas of Karnataka, argued Katju.

He also wrote that Dattu had been allotted a plot of land in Bangalore, however “under the relevant scheme such plots could only be allotted to an employee of the Karnataka High Court. A High Court Judge is not an employee (he holds a Constitutional post, and is no one’s employee).”

“One plot of land in Bangalore was allotted to Justice Dattu under a scheme which had a term that a person already having a plot of land in Bangalore could not be allotted a plot. Justice Dattu already had plots in Bangalore, either in his own name or in his wife or children’s name at that time. He has also built a palatial house in Bangalore, allegedly on 1200 sq.m. land. Possibly that house itself would be worth Rs 50 crore or more.”