First batch of Amarnath pilgrims leave for Kashmir
Jammu, June 27 : A total of 2,995 pilgrims escorted by the security forces left Jammu on Wednesday in two batches who will start their Amarnath Yatra that begins from Thursday.
According to the police, the first group of 1,091 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas at 4.45 a.m. and were proceeding to the Baltal base camp.
While the other group of 1,904 'yatris' left at 5.40 a.m. and were proceeding towards the Pahalgam base camp.
Vijay Kumar, advisor to governor and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary B.V.R. Subrahmanyam flagged off the convoys to the valley from the yatri niwas, an official said.
With additional 213 companies of paramilitary forces augmenting the strength of the existing security forces in the state, nearly one lakh security personnel have been deployed to guard the 2018 Yatra.
The 60-day Yatra will end on August 26, coinciding with the Shravan Purnima festival.
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K’taka HC judge whose controversial remarks triggered controversy expresses regret before open court
Bengaluru: Karnataka High Court judge, Justice V Srishananda, on Saturday expressed regret in open court after facing backlash over his controversial remarks in his recent court hearings, reported Bar and Bench.
Two purported video clips from Justice V Srishananda’s court hearing that show him making inappropriate comments went viral across social media platforms.
On Saturday, Justice Srishananda invited members of the Advocates Association, Bengaluru, and senior lawyers to his courtroom at 2:30 PM, where he read out a note expressing regret for inappropriate comments.
Quoting Advocates Association President Vivek Subba Reddy, Bar and Bench wrote, “He expressed regret for the comments and clarified that it was not his intention to offend any community or members of the Bar. He also requested the association to relay this message to all members of the Bar.”
Reddy further stated, “We also advised him to encourage young lawyers in the courtroom and refrain from making any irrelevant remarks during hearings.”
Another senior lawyer present during the session confirmed to the legal news portal that Justice Srishananda also addressed comments directed at a woman lawyer, who was seen in one of the videos being reprimanded by the judge. The judge Justice Srishananda clarified that his remarks were not intended to target her (woman lawyer) specifically, but rather pertained to the appellant she was representing. “He explained that his comment was meant to imply that the appellant seemed to know a lot about the other party,” said the lawyer.
In addition, Justice Srishananda assured those present that he would avoid making such comments in the future.
The controversy came to light on September 19, when a video clip from an August 28 Court hearing surfaced on social media, showing Justice Srishananda referring to a Muslim-majority sub-locality in Bengaluru’s Goripalya as "Pakistan." Hours later, another video from the same courtroom emerged, in which the judge was seen making a gender-insensitive remark.
Following outrage over the viral videos, a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, and Hrishikesh Roy, on September 20 took a suo motu cognizance and sought a report from the Karnataka High Court Registrar General in connection with the viral video.
