The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Mysore court violated court orders: Narayana Murthy

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Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Mysore court violated court orders: Narayana Murthy

Staff Reporter

The court has issued summons
to Murthy
It was dealing with the National Anthem case

BANGALORE: Chief mentor and founder of Infosys, N.R. Narayana Murthy, on Monday, submitted to the Karnataka High Court that a lower court in Mysore had violated the High Court orders by issuing summons against him.

The court was dealing with a case filed by former Irrigation Minister and Member of Parliament H.N. Nanje Gowda against Mr. Murthy, for allegedly making certain remarks against the National Anthem.

Mr. Gowda had filed a case against Mr. Murthy before a Mysore court, which in turn had ordered issue of process (summons) to Mr. Murthy. The Infosys chief had challenged the Mysore court order in the High Court, and urged it to quash all further proceedings against him.

In his petition, Mr. Murthy said he had the deepest regard for the national symbols, including the national flag. He said it is unfortunate that the Mysore court had issued process against him for an offence under Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.

President’s visit

He said that Infosys had set up the world’s largest corporate education centre in Mysore and the then President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Adbul Kalam, was scheduled to visit Mysore on April 8, 2007. The President was invited to visit the Infosys campus at Mysore. When the President arrived at the campus on April 8, 2004, an instrumental version of the National Anthem was played.

The gathering that had assembled to hear the President’s address sang the National Anthem to the accompaniment of the instrumental version. Mr. Murthy said after Mr. Kalam completed his speech, the instrumental version was played again. He said his remarks on the anthem were taken out of context when he was interacting with the media.

He said Mr. Gowda had filed a complaint against him in Mysore, based on these reports. When the matter came up on Monday, Shashi Kiran Shetty, advocate for Mr. Murthy, said a single judge of the Karnataka High Court had earlier quashed proceedings against him initiated by a Bangalore court on a complaint filed by the Karnataka Vakilara Rakshana Vedike. However, the Mysore judge had failed to consider the High Court order that he has no jurisdiction to issue summons to Mr. Murthy on the same cause of action.

He submitted that the Mysore court had violated High Court orders by going ahead and issuing summons when a similar case against him was dismissed.

Justice Anand Byrareddy adjourned further hearing on the petition.

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