Judges, lawyers and litigants present in court room 1 of the Karnataka High Court were left disturbed and startled on Wednesday after an unknown man entered the courtroom with a razor and inflicted injuries on himself.The incident took place this afternoon in the courtroom of Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice HB Prabhakara Sastry.As item 26 was being called out, the judges sounded alarm after a man present in the courtroom was noticed to be carrying the weapon.Sources told Bar & Bench that the man injured himself with the razor by pressing the weapon to his throat. He is reported to have suffered serious injuries in the process."Take them out immediately. We have no police? Take them to doctor immediately .. Why is he doing that?" Chief Justice Anjaria said to the personnel present in the court hall.Security personnel rushed to the court soon after and escorted the man out of the courtroom.A visibly disturbed Justice Sastry, who is slated to retire from office today, wondered how the man was able to hoodwink the security screening measures in place and enter the courtroom with a weapon."Question is how come security allowed him in with a razor? We have all tight security. Nobody, kindly, don't touch that (file)... That has to be seized under panchnama. Is it proper razor? Single blade?" Justice Sastry remarked.The judge was told that it was a single-blade razor without a handle.
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The Chief Justice, meanwhile, called on the Registrar General as well for assistance. The Court further asked no one to touch the case file left behind by the man, and directed the authorities to formally seize it.
On being informed that the case file had briefly been held by a court officer, the Court observed that this should not have been done.
"How can you receive? Without the permission of the court, the court officer is not supposed to receive ... That too, when filed by an individual party (and not a lawyer). Let that file remain there," the Court said.
The bench eventually adjourned the proceedings for the day.
"We'll adjourn the court proceedings, only few matters are (left)," the bench observed before rising.
The lawyers present in court, meanwhile, urged the Court to report the matter to the jurisdictional police, which the bench said would be done.
TAGS: Karnataka High Court courtroom disturbance unknown man razor injuries Chief Justice NV Anjaria Justice HB Prabhakara Sastry
