LXXXI Addl City Civil and Sessions Judge (Special Court for cases filed against People’s Representatives)
Bengaluru: In a significant administrative development, Special Court Judge for elected representatives, Santosh Gajanan Bhat, has been transferred and appointed as Director of the Bengaluru Mediation Centre. The transfer order was issued by the Registrar General of the High Court following directions from the Chief Justice, as part of a larger reshuffle involving 114 district judges.
The transfer has drawn attention as it comes immediately after the court convicted 17 accused, including former minister Vinay Kulkarni, in the high-profile Yogesh Gowda murder case. The verdict declaring the accused guilty was delivered recently, while the quantum of punishment is yet to be announced.
This timing has raised questions, as Judge Bhat was presiding over the case in the Special Court for MPs/MLAs. With the sentencing phase still pending, concerns were being discussed regarding the impact of the transfer on the case proceedings.
However, officials and legal experts have clarified that the transfer is part of the routine annual judicial reshuffle, typically carried out in April. Judicial transfers are generally implemented every two to three years to maintain administrative balance and efficiency within the system.
It has also been clarified that Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat will continue to function in his current role until June 1, providing sufficient time to complete pending judicial work, including pronouncement of sentences in cases where verdicts have already been delivered.
Meanwhile, K.B. Shivaprasad, currently serving as the Principal District Judge in Mandya, has been appointed as the new judge for the Special Court dealing with elected representatives in Bengaluru.
Authorities have emphasized that the transfer process follows established norms and does not interfere with judicial proceedings. The sentencing in the Yogesh Gowda murder case is expected to be delivered as scheduled, ensuring continuity in the legal process.
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