During a hearing in the Karnataka High Court on August 28, Justice V Srishananda referred to a Muslim-majority area in Bengaluru as “Pakistan,” sparking controversy.

The remark came while discussing a landlord-tenant dispute, though the judge's comments shifted to broader social issues, including traffic violations and public safety, The Indian Express reported.

As the day's proceedings neared their end, Justice Srishananda remarked, “Go towards the Mysore Road Flyover, every autorickshaw has got 10 people… The Mysore Road Flyover from the market to Goripalya is in Pakistan, not in India. This is the reality… However strict an officer you send, he will be beaten. This is not on any channel.”

A video clip of the remarks has since circulated widely on social media.

The judge’s comments were initially focused on legal aspects of the Rent Control Act before transitioning to concerns about traffic regulations, particularly in the context of driver’s insurance and the Motor Vehicles Act. He highlighted the need for more stringent lane discipline, comparing Indian traffic practices to those in foreign countries where lanes are regulated by speed limits.

Justice Srishananda illustrated this by discussing how a vehicle traveling below the speed limit in a high-speed lane would be required to move aside in other countries. He also expressed frustration over common traffic violations, such as overcrowded scooters and autorickshaws, particularly outside private schools, reported The Indian Express.

The judge criticized both the lack of enforcement by school authorities and the police’s inaction, pointing out that even after incidents leading to the deaths of children, no significant measures had been taken.

It was in this broader context of traffic and safety concerns that Justice Srishananda made his controversial remarks regarding the Mysore Road Flyover and Goripalya.