Special Court Judge John Michael Cunha, who convicted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the wealth case, had earlier dealt with the case against Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti in Hubli.
He hails from Mangalore.
Ms. Bharti was one of the 21 persons accused in the hoisting of the national flag in 1994 at Idgah Maidan in Hubli.
It was in September 2004 that a revision petition was filed before Mr. Cunha, who was then the First Additional District and Sessions Judge, seeking stay on the proceedings pending before the Second Judicial Magistrate First Class Court on the prosecution’s plea to withdraw cases against Ms. Bharti and 20 others.
He declined to intervene in the proceedings on September 3, 2004 that led the Second JMFC Court to withdraw the case against Ms. Bharati.
“Fearless judge”Hubli Bar Association president C.R. Patil said Mr. Cunha was among the few fearless and bold judges functioning in Karnataka. “We are glad that such a judge served in Hubli. He was also the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Dharwad,” he added.
Mr. Cunha’s classmate S.K. Ullal and Advocate Amrit Kini from Mangalore are elated over the judgment.
“He has been an upright man and honest to the core. We are happy that John Michael Cunha has delivered this important judgment,” said Mr. Ullal.
Mr. Ullal, Mr. Kini, M.P. Norohna and Mr. Cunha joined together to form “Manu Advocates” firm.
Mr. Cunha was associated with the firm between 1994 and 2002, when he was directly selected as a District Judge. “Such judgments repose faith of the people in the judiciary and dispel doubts that judges yield to pressure.”
