Notwithstanding his controversial past, Andhra Pradesh government today appointed  Justice K L  Manjunath, a retired judge from Karnataka High Court, as the chairman of the recently set up Kapu Commission.

Th commission has been set  up with the mandate to recommend the government on the eligibility of Kapu, an influential land-owning community of Andhra Pradesh, to be included  in the list of Backward castes. Kapus have been agitating for BC status.

Some time back Justice Manjunath’s  proposed elevation to the position of  Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court attracted a lot of debate. Legal luminaries like former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan  opposed his elevation to the position of chief justice of  the High Court. Shanti Bhushan said  there have been enough solid complaints against Karnataka high court judge K L Manjunath which proves him unfit for the position of the chief justice.

A memorandum submitted to then Chief Justice, Supreme Court was revelatory about the controversy.While a section of advocates represented Chief Justice of India about Justice Manjunath’s doubtful integrity some argued in his favor. They said in a representation to the chief justice “The tenor of these reports indicates that there is clear perception in the mind of the public that Justice K.L Manjunath is not only a man of doubtful integrity but also a communal judge. These allegations have been made without any basis and appear to have been instigated by certain disgruntled elements in the judiciary itself. If these kinds of allegations could be entertained and acted upon, it would seriously dent the image of the judiciary itself and result in shaking public confidence in the institution,” according to a report in The Hindu.

They added, “The nature of allegations leveled against the judge in question is that he owns several immovable properties; that he is connected to land mafia; and that he shows favour to members of a particular community, which were absolutely false and baseless.”