Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud led the five-judge bench that took suo motu cognizance of these remarks. The bench, which also includes Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B.R. Gavai, Surya Kant, and Hrishikesh Roy, asked the Karnataka High Court's Registrar General to submit a detailed report on the matter within two days. This came after the Supreme Court reviewed media reports highlighting the judge's controversial statements.
Justice Srishananda's remarks have attracted widespread criticism for their communal and sexist overtones. The incident, occurring in the context of a routine legal proceeding, has intensified concerns about judicial decorum and impartiality, particularly when judges make statements that can be perceived as biased or derogatory. The reference to a Bengaluru neighborhood as “Pakistan” has especially ignited debate, raising issues related to religious and regional sensitivities within the judiciary.
The bench indicated that it may establish formal guidelines to address such incidents, aiming to prevent future occurrences. The Supreme Court's proactive stance signals its intent to safeguard the integrity of judicial proceedings and ensure that personal biases or inappropriate language do not influence legal judgments. Attorney General R. Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta were both summoned to weigh in on the matter.