The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday adjourned for two weeks hearing on petitions by the co-accused in the disproportionate assets case against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa challenging the process of appointment of the special judge trying the case.
Justice Mohan Shantanagoudar passed the order on separate petitions filed by V.K. Sasikala, J. Ilavarasi and V.N. Sudhakaran, who had challenged the process of appointment of B.M. Mallikarjunaiah as the judge of the special court. The adjournment came after Advocate-General S. Vijay Shankar sought time to file objections on behalf of the State government.
The petitioners argued that the State government had not issued a separate gazette notification appointing Mr. Mallikarjunaiah as the special judge. He was posted to the special court by a general transfer order of the Karnataka High Court in 2009 and it was not through a special Government Order.
Since the posting of Mr. Mallikarjunaiah was not backed by any Government Order, the proceedings conducted by him in the case had no recognition of law, the petitioners contended.
