New Delhi:

From fake digital arrests to courier fraud, cybercriminals have become crafty. After several instances of fraudsters impersonating policemen, messaging and calling people to dupe them of their hard-earned money, a fake message from the ‘CJI’, seeking money to book a cab, is now going viral.

According to a screenshot of the post on the microblogging platform X, the impersonator, who claimed to be Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, was stranded at Connaught Place (CP).

“Hello, I am CJI and we have urgent meeting of the collegium and I am stuck at Cannaught Place can you send 5000rs for cab,” read the screenshot of the post riddled with spelling and grammatical errors.

“I will return the money once I reach the court,” assured the fraudulent message.

The Supreme Court has now taken note of the viral post and filed a complaint of cyber fraud on the instructions of the Chief Justice.

Several cases of cyber fraud have emerged in the recent past where people have lost lakhs of rupees after falling prey to the ingenious digital methods used by criminals.

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India proposed to set up a ‘Digital Payments Intelligence Platform’, which will have advanced technologies to mitigate payment fraud risks.

According to the annual report released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on May 30, there was a significant surge in the number of financial frauds reported by banks, increasing by 166 per cent year-on-year in the financial year 2023-24 to reach 36,075 cases.

This figure starkly contrasts with the 13,564 cases reported in the previous fiscal year, FY23.

New Delhi:

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Thursday debunked the “151 mg semen” theory in the Kolkata rape and murder case and told a lawyer to not rely on social media for arguments in court.

Chief Justice Chandrachud’s rebuttal came while he was heading the three-judge bench that was hearing a suo motu case regarding the 31-year-old doctor’s brutal rape and murder at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital on August 9. 

During the hearing, one of the lawyers said that the PMR (post-mortem report) talks about 151 mg (milligram) of semen, it is in mL (milliliter).”

To this, Chief Justice Chandrachud replied, “Don’t confuse this. Don’t use social media to make arguments in court. We have specifically now the post-mortem report before us and we know what that 151 refers to. Let’s not use what we read on social media and make legal arguments on that basis.”

There were reports earlier that claimed that 150 mg of semen was found in the victim’s body, thereby suggesting gangrape. The source of this information was the petition filed by her family in the Calcutta High Court. 

Kolkata police commissioner Vineet Goyal, however, had denied such reports.

“Someone said 150 gm semen is found. I don’t know where they have found this kind of Information. And it is circulating in media in all kinds of forms. People are tempted to believe it and they are trying to create confusion among the people,” Mr Goyal had told a press conference.

Supreme Court Raps Kolkata Police 

The Supreme Court also criticized Kolkata Police for their “extremely disturbing” delay in registering the case of a woman doctor who was raped and killed at RG Kar Hospital.

The bench headed by Chief Justice Chandrachud, with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, questioned the 14-hour delay in filing the first information report (FIR), and the reasons behind it. 

It also scrutinized the sequence of events and timing of procedural formalities.

“Who was in touch with the principal of RG Kar Medical College? Why did he delay the FIR? What was the purpose?” the bench asked.

The Supreme Court is hearing a bunch of petitions relating to the rape and murder of a doctor at the state-run hospital. The victim, a postgraduate trainee doctor, was found dead in the seminar hall of the hospital on August 9. Medical examination has confirmed rape.

Kolkata Police arrested an accused, a civic volunteer named Sanjoy Roy, a day after the incident. However, days later, the Calcutta High Court transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), noting no significant progress in the city police’s probe.

The CBI is yet to make any arrests in the case.

New Delhi:

While hearing the Kolkata doctor’s rape-murder case today, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud referenced the 1973 Aruna Shanbaug incident to highlight brutal attacks on women doctors over the years. CJI Chandrachud said due to ingrained patriarchal biases, women doctors are targeted more and as more women join the workforce, the nation cannot wait for another rape for real changes on the ground.
The Aruna Shanbaug is among the most horrific attacks on medical professionals within hospitals, one that became a test case or euthanasia or mercy killing.

The Aruna Shanbaug Case

Aruna was a 25-year-old nurse at KEM Hospital, the medical institution she had joined in 1967 in the surgery department. She was engaged to Dr Sundeep Sardesai – a doctor at the same hospital – and was due to be married in early 1974. However, on the night of November 27, 1973, she was brutally attacked by a ward attendant, Sohanlal Bharta Walmiki, who sexually assaulted her and then strangled her with a dog chain. The assault left Aruna with severe brain damage, plunging her into a persistent vegetative state (PVS) in which she remained for 42 years until her death in 2015.

The damage to her brain stem left her paralysed, unable to speak, and reliant on others for the most basic needs. For over four decades, she was kept alive through force-feeding by generations of devoted staff at KEM Hospital, who cared for her like family. Aruna became the centre of a national debate when journalist Pinki Virani filed a petition in the Supreme Court in 2011, seeking permission for euthanasia.

According to Pinky Virani’s book about Aruna, titled ‘Aruna’s Story’, Walmiki held a grudge against Aruna after she accused him of stealing food meant for dogs used in medical experiments at the hospital. Aruna had threatened to report him to the hospital authorities.

The Legal Battle

Ms Virani’s petition argued that Aruna, being in a state where she was incapable of experiencing life in any meaningful way, should be allowed to die with dignity. This case, in many ways, brought forward the issue of euthanasia into public discourse in India.

The Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment delivered on March 7, 2011, rejected the petition for active euthanasia, citing that Aruna was not brain dead and responded to certain stimuli, as observed by the hospital staff. However, the Court allowed for the possibility of “passive euthanasia” – the procedure of withholding or withdrawing artificial life support to a patient.

The judgment stated that in cases where patients are in a vegetative state, life support can be legally withdrawn if the request comes from close family members or caretakers and is sanctioned by the courts.

Death And Aftermath

Aruna died on 18 May 2015, after contracting pneumonia.

Her attacker, Sohanlal Bharta Walmiki, was convicted only for robbery and attempted murder, as “sodomy” was not classified as rape under Indian law at the time. He served a mere seven-year sentence and was released in 1980.

New Delhi:
The shocking rape-murder of a young doctor in Kolkata that has hit the country hard, has been taken up by the Supreme Court. A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud will hear the matter today.

Here are the top 10 points in this story:

New Delhi:

In a rare and highly-anticipated event, Bollywood star Aamir Khan is in Supreme Court today for a special screening of the film ‘Laapata Ladies’. The movie is being screened for the judges, their families and officials of the registry with an aim of spreading awareness on gender equality. The event is part of the celebrations marking the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Supreme Court.

While announcing the actor’s arrival, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud put on his funny hat and said, “I don’t want a stampede in court. But Aamir Khan is here today.”

The screening will take place from 4.15 pm to 6.20 pm in the Auditorium of the C-block Administrative Building Complex.

The movie ‘Laapataa Ladies’ explores themes of gender equality and has been acclaimed for its thoughtful and poignant portrayal of social issues. The Supreme Court’s decision to feature this film underscores its commitment to promoting discussions on gender equality and social justice.

According to an official communication from the court’s administration, the screening will be attended by CJI Chandrachud, other judges of the Supreme Court, their partners, and officials from the court’s registry.

Aamir Khan, known for his commitment to social issues through his films, and Kiran Rao, who has directed the film, will be present to engage with the audience, making this screening a unique blend of cinema and judiciary.

‘Laapataa Ladies’ is based on the story of two young brides who get swapped in the train en route to their new husbands’ homes. Directed by Kiran Rao, the film stars Sparsh Shrivastav, Pratibha Ranta and Nitanshi Goel in lead roles. The film has been jointly produced by Jio Studios, Aamir Khan Productions, and Kindling Pictures.

New Delhi:

Stressing to incorporate a green lifestyle into daily lives, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on Tuesday said that climate change can no longer be ignored.

Speaking at the occasion of laying the foundation stone of new buildings at Delhi’s Karkardooma, Shastri Park and Rohini, CJI Chandrachud referred to the two heatwaves followed by the recent record-breaking rain in a single day in the national capital.

“This year Delhi experienced the hottest recorded weather. Our infrastructure must reflect the reality we live in – Climate change can no longer be ignored. One crucial step is to incorporate a green lifestyle into our daily lives, which includes reducing carbon emissions,” he said.

The CJI said he was delighted to know that these new GRIHA-rated court buildings will focus on heat island mitigation and reduce environmental footprint. Green Rated Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) — a rating tool that helps people assess the performance of their building against certain nationally acceptable environmental benchmarks.

He said, “Court premises like all buildings are not just made of bricks and concrete. They are made up of hope. Courts are made to realise the virtues of justice and the rule of law. Every case that is being filed before us, is with that hope for justice. When we invest in the safety, accessibility and comfort of our judges, lawyers and litigants, we build more than just an efficient system — we make a just and inclusive system.”

He said that the new court complexes would enhance the efficiency of the court, alleviate case backlogs and provide a dignified environment to all stakeholders.

Further, CJI Chandrachud said that the judicial system subserves no might but the Constitution and is in service of no one but the litigants, adding that our courts are not merely sights of sovereign power but are also essential public service providers.

“I am hopeful that the new additions to the courts will embrace its rich legacy and create futuristic courts to enhance efficiency and uphold justice,” he said in conclusion.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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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New Delhi:

“Yeh kya market hai jo aap phone pe baat kar rahe hai?” Chief Justice DY Chandrachud remarked on Monday as he took strong exception to a lawyer talking on the mobile phone inside his courtroom.

The CJI, who was holding the bench along with Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, ordered the court staff to confiscate the lawyer’s mobile phone.

“Yeh kya market hai jo aap phone pe baat kar rahe hai? Inka mobile le lo” (Is this a market that you are talking on the phone. Confiscate his mobile phone),” Justice Chandrachud said.

The lawyer was talking on the phone inside the courtroom, prompting the CJI to halt the proceedings and address him directly.

The CJI issued a stern warning to the lawyer and said, “Be careful in the future. Judges see everything. We may be looking at the papers, but we have eyes everywhere.”

(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.)

New Delhi:

The Chief Justice of India, today, fulfilled a promise he made to the media personnel for a one-on-one interaction in the Supreme Court’s media lounge. Last month, during a walk with the Press on the premises of the court, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud was extended an invitation to interact with the media in the press lounge.

In his conversation with the media, the Chief Justice discussed various measures, including; Establishing a robust infrastructure for virtual hearings, the new Supreme Court building, a permanent interpreter for those with speech and hearing impairment and the implementation of hybrid hearings in high courts.

The Chief Justice was accompanied by the Secretary General of the Supreme Court, Atul Kurhekar and other officers. 

Today, a bench headed by the Chief Justice issued directives to all the high courts and said no high court in the country shall deny access to video conference or hearing through hybrid mode to lawyers and litigants.

It also directed the high courts to put standard operating procedures in place for accessing hybrid or video conferencing hearings in four weeks.

“If you want to be a judge then you have to be tech-friendly,” the CJI said, adding, “Technology is no longer a matter of choice.”

The Tea-Samosa Break

Last month, after completing a hearing, the five-judge Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court, headed by the Chief Justice, suddenly decided to take a break.

Justice Hrishikesh Roy, Justice PS Narasimha, Justice Pankaj Mittal, and Justice Manoj Mishra joined Chief Justice DY Chandrachud for a walk. They first visited the cafeteria where the judges had tea, coffee and samosa before checking the new electronic pass system. These passes are now mandatory to enter the premises of the Supreme Court.

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

The redevelopment of the Supreme Court is ongoing under the supervision of the Chief Justice of India, who regularly takes updates on the progress.