Hearing on Narayana Murthy’s petition adjourned

The Karnataka High on Monday adjourned further hearing on a criminal petition by Infosys Chief Mentor N.R. Narayana Murthy seeking quashing of proceedings initiated against him in a lower court.

In his petition, Mr. Murthy said a Bangalore court had issued summons to him following a private complaint by the Kannada Rakshana Vakeelara Vedike.

The vedike had filed a private complaint before the Second Additional City Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) against Mr. Murthy for his alleged remarks on singing of the National Anthem. Mr. Murthy had moved the High Court for quashing the May 26, 2007 order passed by the ACMM in issuing process (summons) to him. The vedike claimed that Mr. Murthy had made insulting remarks about the anthem during a media interaction on April 8 after the then President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam visited the corporate education centre of Infosys at Mysore. Senior advocate K.K. Venugopal, appearing for Mr. Murthy, said the complaint was misconceived and that the ACMM could not have taken cognisance of it. He said though the remark was allegedly made in Mysore, a Bangalore court had taken cognisance of it, asking him to be present on June 21.

He informed the court that the magistrate had no jurisdiction in taking cognizance and issuing summons and that he had failed to notice that Mr. Murthy had not prevented anyone singing the national anthem.

Moreover, an instrumental version of the anthem had been played on the occasion.

Mr. Venugopal urged the court to quash the proceedings saying that his client was not guilty of any offence and that playing the instrumental version did not amount to any violation. He pointed out that the High Court had during earlier hearings had stayed the lower court order.

Justice K. Bhakthavatsala adjourned further hearing on the case after the vedike advocate sought time to argue. He, however, continued the interim order of stay of lower court proceedings.

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