Judges increasingly maligned, threatened, says SC; CBI, police, IB unresponsive to judges’ complaints

THE Supreme Court Friday observed that a new trend in the country had emerged that if an adverse order is passed then the judiciary is maligned. If judges file a complaint to the police or CBI, they do not respond.

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the CBI are not helping the judiciary at all, the top court said.

"Look at this unfortunate case of the death of a young judge (judge Uttam Anand). This is the state's failure. This Dhanbad area has coal mafias and security should have been provided to the society and residences of judges", the Chief Justice of India, NV Ramana said.

The CJI made the observations while hearing a  suo motu case on the death of an Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) following injuries caused to him after he was hit by an autorickshaw driver during his morning walk in Dhanbad.

The bench, which also had Justice Surya Kant, issued notice to all the States asking them to file a status report on the security measures provided to judges, in view of the killing of the Dhanbad judge.

Notice has also been sent to the CBI which has taken over the case base on a recommendation by the Jharkhand Government.

The CJI said there o several cases in the country involving gangsters and other high-profile people. There are threats to the judicial members including high court judges, including through messages on WhatsApp, SMS, etc.

Attorney General KK Venugopal said it was time that some strong measures are put in place for the protection of judges.

Also Read: SC takes suo motu cognizance of Jharkhand ADJ's killing; seeks status report of inquiry from DGP