Karnataka HC reserves orders in Jayalalithaa case

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday reserved its orders on a petition by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, challenging the trial court order rejecting her plea for fresh translation of documents from Tamil to English in a disproportionate assets case.

Special Public Prosecutor B.V. Acharya in his arguments contended that trial should go on without prejudice to any person. Justice Subhash Adi intervened to observe “in fairness of the trial, there has to be correct and proper translation. There must be an opportunity to the accused to point out the mistakes”.
Mr. Acharya said translated copies were given to all accused in March 2005 and suggested that Ms. Jayalalithaa’s counsel name a person who would give the correct translation. “But the trial should go on.”
Justice Adi asked Ms. Jayalalithaa’s counsel Navaneetha Krishnan to point out the mistakes and give the correct translation, “which will be accepted, subject to verification”.
“The entire thing cannot be scrapped. It is voluminous. Point out the mistakes so that these can be corrected. Let the trial of the 42 witnesses who have been recalled go on in open court with a translator appointed by the court,” he said.
Ms. Jayalalithaa’s counsel however objected, submitting that cross examination of witnesses was not correct without complete translation of documents.
Justice Adi then reserved orders on the petition.