Delhi : The Eight months tenure of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana has witnessed certain refreshing changes in the judicial approach of the Supreme Court.
When observations come from the Chief Justice of India, the highest judicial officer of the country, it has the potential of impacting the citizens and creating a positive change and sends a Positive signal that the judiciary shares the people’s concern. The following are some of the impactful remarks and Observations made by the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana in 2021.
Rights and Freedom of Individuals.
Courts In India Have Repeatedly Upheld Rights & Freedoms Of Individuals: CJI Ramana
They(courts) stood up whenever the individuals or society are at the receiving end of the executive excesses. It is an assurance that the seeker of justice, howsoever weak, need not worry about the might of the State”, the CJI said.
Police Action
While hearing a plea filed by a suspended Additional Director General of Police of Chattisgarh Gurjinder Pal Singh seeking protection in criminal cases filed against him, the CJI had expressed his reservations regarding the behavior of the bureaucracy particularly the police officers in the country.He had also indicated that he has considered constituting a standing committee for examination of complaints filed against the bureaucrats Particularly Police officers headed by Chief Justice of High Court. I want to reserve that, don’t want to do it now” , the CJI had said.
State of affairs in the country is sad. When a political party is in power, Police Officials side with a particular party. Then when a new party comes into power, the government initiates action against those officials. This is a new trend, which needs to be stopped”, the the CJI had orally remarked.
While delivering the key note address at an event organized by the National Legal Services Authority of India (NALSA), the CJI had expressed concerns the degree of human rights violations in police stations in the country.
The threat to human rights and bodily integrity are the highest in Police Station. Custodial torture and other police atrocities are problems which still prevail in our society. In spite of constitutional declarations and guarantees, lack of effective legal representation at the police stations is a huge detriment to arrested/detained. Going by the recent reports even the privileged are not spared third – degree treatment ” CJI had said.
Tv Debates Creating More Pollution ; Every One Has their Own Agenda.
During the hearing of the case related to air pollution in Delhi, the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana had made certain critical comments about TV channel debates, saying that they take statements said in Court out of context with an agenda and caused “more pollution”.
Debates in TV are creating more pollution than everybody. They don’t understand. Statements are taken out of context. Everyone has their own agenda”,the Chief Justice said.The CJI made these remarks in reference to the controversy over the percentage of contribution of farmers stubble burning to Delhi Air Pollution
Media Relevance
Delivering the keynote address while awarding the Mumbai Press Club’s RedInk Awards, Chief Justice of India NV Ramana spoke about the pressures faced by journalists in the age of cut-throat competition and social media amplification. Underscoring that press freedom was integral for the proper functioning of democracy, CJI Ramana reminded that journalists should resist being co-opted by an ideology or the State.The CJI commented that the deadly combination of confrontational polity and competitive journalism can be lethal to democracy. He also expressed concerns about the seeping of ideological stances and Biases into News Story
Your( Union Govt ) Testing our Patience Tribunal Reforms
While refusing discussion on Tribunal Reforms Bill 2021, the CJI had remarked that “We can’t stop passing of legislation, the government cannot stop us from passing orders. This is the duty of both institutions.” He had also expressed concerns about the mounting vacancies in tribunals across the country and Sought Response from Government.
While hearing a matter regarding pending vacancies in Tribunals across the country, the CJI had harshly criticized the Union Government over the delay filling up of the vacancies in Tribunals and also for passing Tribunals Reforms Act 2021. “There is no respect to judgments of this court. You are Testing our patience! How many persons were appointed? You said some persons were appointed? Where are the appointments?”, the CJI had remarked.
Legislative Debates
Speaking at an Independence day event, Chief Justice of India NV Ramana had expressed his unhappiness over the lack of debates in Parliament while law are being enacted these days. The CJI had lamented that there was a “sorry state of affairs” as laws are passed without sufficient debates.
But now, it is a SORRY STATE OF AFFAIRS. We see legislations with a lot of ambiguities…. and a lot of gaps in laws. There is no clarity regarding the laws. We don’t know for what purpose, a law has been made… this creates a lot of litigation and inconvenience and loss to the Government and public, “CJI Said.
