N S VEERABHADRAIAH Vs. K N SHANTHA KUMAR, MAJOR EDITOR, DECCAN HERALD, GAYATHRI NIWAS, MAJOR CHIEF REPORTER, MAJOR EDITOR, DECCAN HERALD, K R RAMCHAND, PRINTER AND PUBLISHER, MAJOR EDITOR, DECCAN HERALD AND PRINTERS (MYSORE) PVT LTD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Plaintiff has filed the suit for damages directing the Defendants to pay jointly and severally to the Plaintiff a sum of Rs. 10,01,000/- together with interest for the defamatory publication made by the Defendants.

(2.) The Plaintiff was directly recruited as District and Sessions Judge in the year 1983 and elevated as Judge of the High Court in the month of June 1998. Initially he was appointed as Additional Judge of High Court of Karnataka and later he was made permanent. Defendants are The Times of India News Paper and its Major Editor, Major Reporter, Printer, Publisher, Executive Director, Exeuctive Managing Editor and Proprietor of Times of India Group. There were certain publication of news items in Defendant news papers from 9.11.2002 and on subsequent dates and all those publications were made by the Defendants in news papers alleging immoral activities in a resort of Mysore city and further alleging that the three judges of Karnataka High Court were involved in the alleged incident and that the transfer of the Judges involved in the alleged incident were being contemplated. Alleging that because of the publication of the defamatory materials, the Plaintiff has suffered acute mental agony and pain and unbearable ignominy and humiliation and that there is a loss of reputation to the family, the Plaintiff has filed the suit for damages claiming a sum of Rs. 10,01,000/- from the Defendants.

(3.) By the order of the Supreme Court, the suit was transferred to this Court.