Holding

The transfer petition was dismissed as the petitioner’s apprehension of bias was not reasonable, genuine or justifiable.

Summary

R. Balakrishna Pillai, a former Kerala minister, was convicted under Sections 5(1)(d) and 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 for abusing his office to supply electricity to a private firm in Karnataka. He filed a criminal appeal before the Kerala High Court and subsequently moved a transfer petition in the Supreme Court seeking to shift the appeal to the Karnataka High Court, alleging that adverse press, a judge’s earlier appearance as counsel for a commission of inquiry against him, and the Chief Justice’s inaction would deny him a fair trial. The Supreme Court held that mere apprehension of bias is insufficient; the apprehension must be reasonable, genuine and justifiable, which it was not in the present case. The Court emphasized the separation of judiciary from the executive, noted that a judge’s prior advocacy does not automatically create bias, and rejected the claim that adverse publicity undermines the fairness of the trial. Consequently, the transfer petition was dismissed and the appeal was ordered to remain before the Kerala High Court.

Issues considered

Whether the petitioner’s apprehension of bias and unfair trial is reasonable, genuine and justifiable to warrant transfer of the appeal.
Whether a judge’s prior role as advocate in a separate commission of inquiry creates a presumption of bias in a later criminal appeal.
Whether adverse publicity and the alleged non‑issuance of an order by the Chief Justice justify transferring the appeal to another High Court.
Whether the power under Section 406 of the CrPC to transfer a criminal appeal can be exercised on such grounds.

Legislation cited

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 406
Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 120-B
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947s. 5(1)(d), s. 5(2)

Subjects

Transfer of appealJudicial biasFair trialAdverse publicityJudicial independencePrevention of Corruption ActHigh Court jurisdictionCriminal appealBench selection

Judgment

A R. BALAKRISHNA PILLAI
v.
STA TE OF KERALA

AUGUST 30, 2000

B [M.B. SHAH AND S.N. PHUKAN, JJ.]

Transfer Petition-Corruption charges-Transfer Petition for transfer
of appeals from one High Court to another High Court-Apprehension of
C unfair trial on ground that High Court Judge hearing the appeals acted as
Prosecutor against appellant in a different case earlier-Adverse publicity
by Press against the appellant in the State-Held, on facts, there is no
justifiable apprehension for unfair trial-Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947-
Section 5.

D Practice & Procedure:

Advocate filing application for withdrawing from the case-Real
purpose is to get the matter adjourned-Such practice requires to be strongly
discouraged

E Petitioner as Minister of Electricity in Government of Kerala utilised
his position in supplying electricity to a private company in the State of
Karnataka, which enabled the company to make a pecuniary advantage of Rs.
19,58,630. Inquiry Commission and Special Judge found the petitioner guilty
under Section S of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and sentenced him
to undergo simple imprisonment for one year with a fine of Rs. 10,000. In
F appeal, Single Judge of the Kerala High Court referred the matter to a
Division Bench as the matter involved question of law and facts of public
importance. The appeals came up for hearing before a Division Bench. The
petitioner made a representation before the Chief Justice of the High Court
that the appeals be transferred to another Bench of the High Court. The
petitioner, meanwhile, filed a transfer petition before this Court
-
G
The petitioner urged for transfer of appeals from the High Court of
Kerala to High Court of Karnataka on the ground of alleged adverse publicity
in the Press in the respondent-State against the petitioner and contended that
a fair trial is not possible; that one of the judge acted as a prosecutor before
H another Commission of Inquiry appointed against him to inquire into
26 '· '
R.B. PILLAI v. ST ATE OF KERALA 27
malpractices some 15 years back; that the Judge would have prejudice against A
him on that ground; that the Chief Justice of Kera la High Court has not passed
any order on the representation made; and that when adjournment of hearing
of the appeal was sought in the last hearing, the High Court declined to grant
the same and when the counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner withdrew
his appearance and refused to argue the matter, the Court issued bailable B
warrant to the petitioner to remain present on the next date of hearing; and
that all the aforesaid grounds are to be considered conjointly by the Supreme
Court before arriving at a decision.

Respondent-State contended that the litigants cannot select the Bench
for the trial and malign the judicial administration thereby; that the petitioner C
has not been convicted for the offences arising out of the earlier Inquiry
Commission report; and that it cannot be stated that the Judge, who appeared
as prosecutor before the earlier Commission would not do justice in this case.

Dismissing the Transfer Petition, the Court
D
HELD: 1.1. There is complete separation of Judiciary from the Executive
and the Judges are not influenced in any manner either by the propaganda or
adverse publicity. Cases are decided on the basis of the evidence available on
record and the law applicable. Granting such application and transferring the
appeal from High Court of Kerala to High Court of Karnataka would result
in casting unjustified aspersion on the Court having jurisdiction to decide E
the appeal on the assumption that its judicial verdict is consciously or sub-
consciously affected by the popular frenzy, official wrath or adverse publicity,
which is not the position qua the judicial administration in this country.
(31-F-G)

1.2. A more allegation that there is apprehension that justice will not F
be done in a given case is not sufficient. Before transferring the case, the
Court has to find out whether the apprehension appears to be reasonable. To
judge the reasonableness of the apprehension, the state of the mind of the
person who entertains the apprehension is relevant but that is not all. The
apprehension must appear to the Court to be reasonable, genuine and G
justifiable. In the present day scenario, if these types of applications are
entertained, the entire judicial atmosphere would be polluted with such
frivolous petitions for various reasons. (32-C)

1.3. The Transfer Petition requires to be rejected firstly because the
petitioner is not convicted on the basis of the earlier Inquiry, the prosecutor H
28 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2000] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A of which has now became a Judge of the High Court Bench hearing the
petitioner's case. Secondly, a Judge while practicing as an advocate might
have appeared in a number of cases, but that would not mean that he would
have any personal interest or connection with the said matters or with persons
involved therein and wr.·dd be biased towards them. Therefore, it would be
difficult to presume or to draw an inference that the Judge, because of
B assisting the Commission oflnquiry as an Advocate in a different matter, would
have bias or prejudice against the petitioner and would not render justice in
accordance with law. Acceptance of such contention would seriously undermine
the independence and stern stuff of the Judges. (32-H; 33-A)

C Maneka Sanjay Gandhi v. Rani Jethmalani, (1979) 2 SCR 378, relied
on.
1.4. The contention of the petitioner that the Chief Justice of the Kerala
High Court had not passed any order on the representation deserves to be
rejected because in a criminal appeal pending for trial, there is no question
D of passing any order by the Chief Justice of the High Court. (33-C)

1.5. The practice of filing an application by an Advocate for withdrawing
his appearance on the date of hearing for getting the matter adjourned
requires to be strongly discouraged. In such a situation, for seeking the
appearance of the petitioner, who was released on bail, there was no alternative
E for the Court but to issue bailable warrant. Therefore, the course adopted by
the Court was justified. Hence, there is no remotest chance or justification
for entertaining apprehension that petitioner would not get justice if the appeal
is decided by the Bench to whom it is assigned. Even considering the grounds
conjointly, it would be difficult to accept that there was any justification for
su~~ apprehension. Power of transfer of trial or appeal cannot be exercised
F on hypersensitive grounds or mini-grievances. (33-E-G]

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Transfer Petition (Cr!.) No.
115 of2000.

(Under Section 406 Code of Criminal Procedure.)
G U.R. Lalit, E.M.S. Anam and Fazlin Anam for the Petitioner.
Harish N. Salve, Solicitor General, G. Prakash, Ms. Beena Prakash, Gopala
Krishna Kurup and Jyotish for the Respondent.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

H SHAH, J. This Transfer Petition was placed before us for hearing on . '
R.B. PILLAI v. ST ATE OF KERALA [SHAH, J.] 29
21st August, 2000 and on that day while dismissing the same we stated that A
reasons would follow. Now, we narrate the reasons for the same.
Petitioner, who according to the facts stated in the list of dates, was
Minister for Electricity in the Government ofKerala and MLA or MP for over
30 years and has been convicted under Section 5(1)(d) read with Section 5(2)
of the Prevention of Corruption Act, has filed Criminal Appeal before the High B
Court of Kerala. This Petition is filed by him for transferring the pending
appeal to the High Court of Karnataka. Question, therefore, which requires
consideration in this petition is-whether the apprehension of the petitioner
that he would not get justice in the criminal appeal if decided by the High
Court of Kerala is genuine and justifiable?
c
The petitioner and a former Chairman of Kerala State Electricity Board
were prosecuted for the offences punishable under Section 5(l)(d) read with
Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and also under Section
120-B IPC, on the charge that by abusing his position the petitioner sold
12241440 units of Kerala electricity to the State of Karnataka to be supp lied D
to Mis Graphite India Ltd., Bangalore, a private industry in the State of
Kamataka and thereby enabled the said company to make pecuniary advantage
of Rs. 19,58,630.40 and more by way of resultant profit. By judgment and order

- dated 20.5.1996, the Inquiry Commission and the Special Judge,
Thiruvananthapuram found the accused guilty under Section 5(l)(d) read with
Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and sentenced the E
accused to undergo simple imprisonment for one year and also to pay a fine
of Rs. 10,000 each and in default to undergo simple imprisonment for a further
period of two months. Against that judgment and order Criminal Appeal No.
304 of 1996 filed by the petitioner is pending for hearing before the High Court
of Kerala. The State had also filed an appeal for enhancing the sentence. The F
appeals were heard by the learned Single Judge in October/November, 1998
and the judgment was reserved. Thereafter, by judgment and order dated
6.7.2000, the learned Single Judge referred the matter to a Division Bench by
stating that the matter involved question of law and facts of public importance.
It is stated that on the same date, the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court
directed to post the appeals for hearing before a Bench of Mr. P.K. G
Balasubramanian and Mr. Hassan Pillai, JJ.

Thereafter, on 24th July, 2000, petitioner filed an application before the
Chief Justice of Kerala High Court that appeals be placed before a different
Bench on the ground that Mr. Justice P.K. Balasubramanian had effectiveJy
worked against him as an advocate before Justice K. Sukumaran Commission H
30 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2000] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A of Inquiry, which was appointed by the State Government in December, l 985. .
The Inquiry Commission was appointed to inquire into some of the ma/
practices in the execution of the rectification work in a Hydro Electric Project
called EDAMALA YAR PROJECT, consequent on the discovery of lead in its
Power Tunnel. It was stated in the application that petitioner bona fide
B apprehended that the learned Judge would be prejudiced against him in spite
of passage of time and his elevation as a Judge of the High Court. Therefore,
it is just and fair that he may not hear the appeals filed by him and filed
against him on the ground that justice should not only be done but it should
also appear to be done.

C In this Transfer Petition, petitioner changed his version and submitted
that criminal appeal pending before the High Court of Kerala be transferred
to the High Court of Karnataka at Bangalore on the ground that a fair and
reasonable trial is not possible in the State because the Government and that
the Press in the State have by their vicious campaign created a situation and
impression among the public that the petitioner has committed irregularities,
D illegalities. and crimes in the sale of electricity. It is also stated that Mr. P.K.
Balasubramanian, J. while practising as an Advocate had acted as prosecutor
befo1 e Justice K. Sukumaran Commission in an inquiry known as

E
EDAMALA YAR case.

At the time of hearing of this matter, Mr. U.R. Lalit, learned senior
-
counsel appearing on behalf of petitioner submitted that the petitioner has
reasonable apprehension that ifthe case is heard by Mr. P.K. Balasubramanian,
J., he would not get fair justice because:-

(a) The learned Judge before elevation appeared as an Advocate for
the Commission;
F
(b) Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court has not passed any order
on the representation made by the petitioner; and
(c) On 14.8.2000 adjournment of hearing of the appeal was not granted
and when counsel for the petitioner refused to argue the appeal
G by stating that he was not appearing for the appellant-petitioner,
Court has issued a bailable warrant returnable on 21st August,
2000.

The learned c0unsel further submitted that all the aforesaid grounds be
considered conjointly for deciding-whether petitioner was justified in having
H reasonable apprehension that he would not get fair justice if the matter is ·
'
R.B. PILLAI v. STATE OF KERALA [SHAH, J.] 31

.. heard by the same Bench? A
As against this, Mr. Harish N. Salve, learned Solicitor General appearing
on behalf of the respondent (on caveat) submitted that this kind of application
is not required to be entertained or encouraged otherwise litigants would
have a chance of selecting the Bench and malign the judicial administration.
He also submitted that in the appeal which is pending before the Kerala High B
Court, the petitioner is not convicted in connection with the offences arising
out of the report of the Commission given in 1985 and as such it cannot be
stated that Judge, who appeared as Commission's Advocate in 1985 would

- not do justice to a litigant in a case where he is convicted for different offence
in different case.
At the outset, we may state that this petition is filed for transfer of case
from the High Court of Kerala to the High Court of Karnataka on the ground
c

of alleged adverse publicity in the Press in the State of Kerala. This contention
is apparently raised at a belated stage i.e., after lapse of four years from the
date of filing of the appeal in the High Court. Petitioner has not raised any D
objection with regard to hearing of the appeal by the Kerala High Court when
the matter was heard by the learned Single Judge in 1998, who subsequently
referred it to a larger Bench. Even in the representation before the Chief
Justice, he has not raised the said contention. Therefore, elaborate submissions
made in the Transfer Petition that a fair trial will not be possible in the State
of Kerala as political parties in power have created such a situation that E
justice, fairness and rule of law cannot be expected in cases against the
petitioner and that any person can be influenced consciously or sub-
consciously by the adverse publicity against the petitioner, are required to be
rejected. Apart from not raising objection for a period of four years, we would
further state that in this country there is complete separation of Judiciary from F
the Executive and Judges are not influenced in any manner either by the
propaganda or adverse publicity. Cases are decided on the basis of the
evidence available on record and the law applicable. Granting such application
and transferring the appeal from High Court of Kerala to High Court of
Karnataka would result in casting unjustified aspersion on the Court having
jurisdiction to decide the appeal on the assumption that its judicial verdict is G
consciously or sub-consci()usly affected by the popular frenzy, official wrath
or adverse publicity, which is not the position qua the judicial administration
in this country. We would also mention that at the time of hearing the learned
counsel has not raised this contention.

Further, the contention raised by the learned counsel for the petitioner H
32 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2000] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A that one of the Judge of the Bench was appointed and has worked as an
Advocate to assist Justice K. Sukumaran Commission to inquire into mat
practices in the execution of the rectification work in Hydro Electric Project
called Edamalayar Project and, therefore, the petitioner is not likely to get

B
justice if the appeal is decided by 'the said Bench, deserves to be rejected.
It is true that one of the principles of the administration of justice is that
justice should not only be done but it should be seen to have been done.
-
However, a mere allegation that there is apprehension that justice will not be
done in a given case is not sufficient. Before transferring the case, the Court
has to find out whether the apprehension appears to be reasonable. To judge
the reasonableness of the apprehension, the state of the mind of the person
C who entertains the apprehension is no doubt relevant but that is not all. The
apprehension must appear to the Court to be a reasonable, genuine and
justifiable. In the present day scenario, if these types of applications are
entertained, the entire judicial atmosphere would be polluted with such
frivolous petitions for various reasons. Dealing with the Transfer Petition, this
Court in Maneka Sanjay Gandhi v. Rani Jethamalani, [1979] 2 SCR 378
D observed: -

"Assurance of a fair trial is the first imperative of the dispensation of
justice and the central criterion for the court to consider when a
motion for transfer is made is not the hypersensitivity or relative
convenience of a party or easy availability of legal services or like
E mini-grievances. Something more substantial, more compelling, more
imperilling, from the point of view of public justice and its attendant
environment, is necessitous if the Court is to exercise its power of
transfer. This is the cardinal principle although the circumstances may
be myriad and vary from case to case. We have to test the petitioner's
F grounds on this touch-stone bearing in mind the rule that normally the
complainant has the right to choose any court having jurisdiction and
the accused cannot dictate where the case against him should be
' tried. Even so, the process of justice should not harass the parties
and from that angle the court may weigh the circumstances."
Applying the aforesaid principles in deciding the Transfer Petition, in
G
our view, it requires to be rejected firstly bec.ause the petitioner is not convicted
on the basis of the said inquiry report. The charges against him are all
together for a different case not connected with the rectification work of
Edamalayar Project. Secondly, a Judge while practicing as an advocate might
have appeared in a number of cases, but that would not mean that he would
H have any personal interest or connection with the said matters or with persons
R.B. PILLAI v. ST ATE OF KERALA [SHAH, J.] 33
involved therein and would be biased towards them. Therefore, it would be A
,.... difficult to presume or to draw an inference that the learned Judge, because
of assisting the Commission of Inquiry as an Advocate in different matter,
would have bias or prejudice against the petitioner and would not render

- justice in accordance with law. Acceptance of such contention would seriously
undermine the independence and stem stuff of the Judges.
B
The second contention that the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court
had not passed any order on the representation made by the petitioner also
deserves to be rejected because in a criminal appeal pending for trial, there
is no question of passing any order by the Chief Justice of the High Court.
•'
Lastly, it is submitted that on 14th August, 2000 when the adjournment C
of hearing of appeal was sought, the Court had not granted the same and as
the advocate appearing on behalf of the petitioner submitted that he was
withdrawing his appearance and refused to argue the matter, the Court issued
bailable warrant to the petitioner to remain present on the date of hearing. In
the order, which was passed on the said date (which is produced for our D
perusal at the time of hearing by the learned counsel for the petitioner), the
Court has specifically mentioned that as the learned counsel for the petitioner
has withdrawn his appearance, matter cannot proceed and for giving an
opportunity to the petitioner to engage a counsel of his choice, matter was
adjourned. In our view, this practice of filing an application by an Advocate
that he withdraws his appearance on the date of hearing, only for getting the E
matter adjourned, requires to be strongly discouraged. In such a situation, for
seeking the appearance of the petitioner, who was released on bail, there was
no alternative for the Court but to issue bailable warrant. Therefore, the
course adopted by the Court was justified. Hence, there is no remotest chance
or justification for entertaining apprehension that petitioner would not get p
justice if the appeal is decided by the Bench to whom it is assigned. Learned
counsel for the petitioner submitted that all the aforesaid grounds are to be
considered conjointly for arriving at a conclusion that whether the petitioner
was having reasonable apprehension that he would not get fair justice if the
matter was heard by the said Bench. As discussed above, even considering
the grounds conjointly, it would be difficult to accept that there was any G
justification for such apprehension. Power of transfer of trial or appeal cannot
be exercised on hypersensitive. grounds or mini-grievances.

Hence, this Transfer Petition is dismissed.

B.K. Petition dismissed. H