The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a petition requesting to make public a judicial inquiry report clearing three Karnataka high court judges of any involvement in the 'Mysore sex scandal.'
Justices S Rajendra Babu and G P Mathur heard the petition, filed by senior advocate Indira Jaising, asking the Supreme Court Registrar General to make the report public, as there was national concern for judicial accountability.
To ensure that the judiciary retains a transparent and credible face before the public and that 'justice is not only done but is seen to be done,' the matter should be probed thoroughly by a professional investigating agency, Jaising contended.
A three-judge inquiry panel comprising Bombay High Court Chief Justice C K Thakker, Kerala High Court Chief Justice J L Gupta and Justice A K Patnaik of the Orissa high court probed the incident and cleared the three Karnataka judges.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka high court initiated contempt of court proceedings against reporters, editors and publishers of several publications for publishing reports linking the three judges to the scandal.
The Supreme Court, hearing appeals by the media challenging the Karnataka high court's decision, had asked them to come out with the truth. The matter has been adjourned to October for further hearing.