Karnataka High Court Full Bench Resolves To Place Portrait Of Dr. BR Ambedkar At All Official Court Functions

As per the circular issued on February 4, the portrait is allowed to be placed during functions such as Republic Day on 26th January, Independence Day on 15th August and Constitution Day on 26th November in the High Court of Karnataka, Principal Bench at Bengaluru, Benches at Dharwad and Kalaburagi and also in District and Taluka Courts in the State.

Further it is said that, "Additional Registrar Generals, at Dharwad and Kalaburagi Benches and all the concerned Unit Heads of the District Judiciary are hereby directed to instruct all the Courts coming under their jurisdiction to take necessary action accordingly, to place the portrait of Bharata Rathna Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Architect of Constitution of India, on Republic Day on 26th January, Independence Day on 15th August and Constitution Day on 26th November, henceforth."

Recently, protests were held in Raichur district and Bengaluru by a group of advocates and others after it was alleged that on January 26, the Principal District and Sessions Judge (PDSJ) had directed removal of a portrait of Dr. Ambedkar kept along with portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, before hoisting the national flag on the court premises.

Later the judge Mallikarjuna Gouda, had clarified that some advocates had approached him to keep the portrait of Dr. Ambedkar along with Mahatma Gandhi's portrait as per the Government Order but he had told the advocates that the Registrar General of the High Court had informed in the meeting of PDSJs that decision to keep the portrait of Dr. Ambedkar is pending consideration before the full court of the High Court.

The district court judge had relied on the circular issued on July 1, 2009 by the High Court, in which it was instructed that except the portrait of the father of the nation-Mahatma Gandhi, no other photograph/portrait shall be exhibited in any of the subordinate court premises in the state.

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