Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud on July 15 agreed to consider listing a plea by Vodafone-Idea to correct alleged errors in the computation of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud on July 15 agreed to consider listing a plea by Vodafone-Idea to correct alleged errors in the computation of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the telecom service provider (TSP), orally mentioned the plea before the Chief Justice.

A curative petition against the dismissal of earlier pleas seeking correction of alleged errors in AGR-related dues is yet to be listed before a Bench, the TSP said.

In July 2021, the apex court, in an order, had said what TSPs really wanted, under the guise of correcting “arithmetical errors”, was a recalculation of their AGR running into crores of rupees.

The court had at the time said that applications filed by the telecom majors to “correct” mathematical mistakes, which at “first blush” look “innocuous”, was a roundabout way to recompute their AGR debts — a path expressly forbidden by the Supreme Court in an earlier order.

In a September 2020 judgment, the apex court had ordered the TSPs to pay annual 10% instalments from April 1, 2021 up to March 31, 2031.

Kolkata:

 Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Friday said that more has to be done towards achieving maximum gender representation in the legal profession, while appreciating strides already made towards that direction.

He urged the legal fraternity to work towards fostering more equality.

The CJI said that in various states, in the competitive examinations for the lowest level of judicial service, over 60 per cent of the recruits are now women.

“That shows you the social evolution that is taking place in India,” he said, speaking at the bicentenary celebration of the Bar Library Club of the Calcutta High Court at the Town Hall here.

“But while progress is being made in terms of gender representation, there remains a pressing need to ensure that our judicial institutions are truly inclusive and accommodating for all,” the CJI said.

He said that despite the presence of female lawyers, amenities and facilities catering to their specific needs are “sorely lacking”.

Women often have multifaceted identities – balancing household tasks and child-rearing responsibilities alongside their professional careers, he said.

The CJI said that managing both domestic and professional spheres can be a daunting exercise for women.

“The expectation that women shoulder dual roles as caregivers and as professionals, highlights the need for supportive policies and environment within our legal institutions,” he said.

He said that the introduction of a meal for Rs 25 for the staff of the Supreme Court, where more than 2,000 women work, after he took over as CJI, has gone a long way in helping those women who do not find time to cook for themselves in the morning to get wholesome food at their workplace.

“A small initiative like this makes such a big difference to the empowerment of women,” he said.

The CJI urged the legal fraternity to build on the initiatives, ensuring that they translate into meaningful actions that foster more equitable treatment for women.

“Encouraging diversity and inclusion strengthens our legal system and enriches the perspectives that drive justice,” he said.

Stating that the Supreme Court has in its 75-year history designated a total of 313 women as senior counsels, he said that this February, 12 women were designated senior counsels at one go in one particular selection.

Holding that common citizens feel that adjournments have become a routine of the judicial system in present times, he said that this perception is disheartening.

“This leads to prolonged litigations, increased costs for litigants and delayed justice, ultimately eroding the public trust in our legal system,” he said.

Drawing reference from popular Hindi cinema ‘Jolly LLB’, he said that the protagonist in the movie confronted the courtroom dynamics and that Jolly observed another advocate manipulating evidence to favour his wealthy client.

“This fictional portrayal vividly reflects real-world concerns where professionalism and ethical standards are sometimes compromised affecting the credibility of legal proceedings,” he said.

Asking whether lawyers should be ceasing to do work to pay respect to a member of the Bar who has passed away, he said.

“Every minute of judicial time which is lost is judicial time lost in answering a case of a litigant who is crying for justice,” he said.

He said that the traditions of the legal fraternity can be suitably altered to pay respects and yet at the same time make themselves in tune with the demands of modern society.

The CJI also called for doing away with resistance to technological advancements within the legal profession.

Supreme Court judges Justice B R Gavai and Justice Dipankar Dutta, Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court T S Sivagnanam were among those present at the programme. PTI AMR NN

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Chief Justice of India D. Y. Chandrachud is felicitated with the ‘Award for Global Leadership’, at Harvard Law School, in Massachusetts, USA.
| Photo Credit: PTI

However bad a Constitution may be, it may turn out to be good if those responsible for its functioning happen to be a “good lot,” Chief Justice of India D. Y. Chandrachud said while citing B. R. Ambedkar and hailing his idea of constitutionalism as being responsible for dismantling deeply entrenched caste hierarchy in India.

The CJI made the observations during his keynote address at the Sixth International Conference on the ‘Unfinished Legacy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’ at the Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, in the U.S. on October 22.

The CJI highlighted the idea of constitutionalism of Ambedkar, who headed the committee tasked to frame the Indian Constitution and said it was instrumental in transforming Indian society by dismantling deeply entrenched caste hierarchy and promoting social, economic and political empowerment of marginalised groups.

“Ambedkar’s legacy continues to shape the constitutional values of modern India, serving as a beacon for social reform and the pursuit of justice for all,” he said.

He cited Ambedkar, who had said however good a Constitution may be, it is sure to turn out bad because those who are called to work it happen to be a bad lot.

“However bad a Constitution may be, it may turn out to be good if those who are called to work it happen to be a good lot,” the CJI said quoting Ambedkar.

The CJI, who is in the USA, was also felicitated with the ‘Award for Global Leadership’ by the Center on the Legal Profession, Harvard Law School on Saturday.

The announcement about CJI Chandrachud being chosen as the recipient of the award was made on January 11, 2023 in an online ceremony.

He was present at the Harvard Law School on Saturday for a fireside chat with David Wilkins, Professor at Harvard Law School and Faculty Director, Center on the Legal Profession.

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses from the Centre and others on a plea highlighting legal and ethical issues posed by live surgery broadcast.

A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud issued notices to the Centre and others, including the National Medical Commission (NMC), seeking their replies on the plea filed by some Delhi-based persons.

The bench, also comprising justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, noted that the petitioners have sought a direction to the NMC to appoint a committee to regularly monitor live surgery broadcast and also framing of guidelines regarding this.

The court posted the matter for hearing after three weeks. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

There may be a thousand issues meriting attention but everything cannot be entertained to make the Supreme Court dysfunctional, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said on Tuesday while declining to hear an interim plea on the deaths of captive elephants in Kerala.

“These are local issues which may be dealt with by the high courts. If they make an egregious error then we are here to correct those errors. But you know … how can we run the country,” a bench comprising Chief Justice Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra said.

“What is the role of the Supreme Court in the nation … we are not to deal with these, you know, micromanagement of issues which arise all over the country. If the high court commits an egregious error we are here and will correct the error,” it said.

Senior advocate CU Singh, appearing for an intervenor, at the outset raised the issue of deaths of captive elephants in Kerala, violation of rules and sought an urgent hearing.

“More than 135 captive elephants in Kerala died due to neglect, and overwork between February 2019 to November 2022,” he said.

The bench asked Mr Singh to approach the high court with the grievance, saying the judges there are aware of the local conditions and the ramifications.

The Chief Justice was irked over the “proliferation” of interim applications in pending cases and stressed the need to understand the role of the Supreme Court.

On being insisted that the matter be heard in the Supreme Court itself, the bench said, “Now we cannot entertain everything here to make the Supreme Court dysfunctional.”

“We are of the view that it will not be possible to entertain such IAs (interim applications). The intervenor may be heard on substantive issues when the writ petition is listed,” the bench said and listed the main case for hearing in December.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

In a break from his rigorous schedule, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud was spotted taking a stroll around the Supreme Court campus. During his walk, he interacted with media personnel and also accepted their invitation to visit the press lounge later.

After completing a hearing, the constitution bench of five Supreme Court judges suddenly decided to take a break. Along with his fellow judges, the Chief Justice stepped out on the Supreme Court grounds. Justice Hrishikesh Roy, Justice PS Narasimha, Justice Pankaj Mittal, and Justice Manoj Mishra joined Chandrachud on the walk.

They first visited the cafeteria and enjoyed samosas and coffees there before going out to check the status of the new electronic passes. These passes will soon become mandatory to enter the Supreme Court premises.

Chief Justice Chandrachud interacted with the media as he was heading back to his chambers.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the government if a change in the law is warranted on the legal question of whether a person holding a driving licence for a light motor vehicle is entitled to legally drive a transport vehicle of a particular weight.

Observing that these are policy issues impacting the livelihood of lakhs of people, the five-judge constitution bench said the government needs to take a “fresh look” at the matter while asserting that it needs to be taken up at the policy level.