Page 4 - Indian Judiciary

Stronger judicial data grid can boost investments, says CII report

The NJDG was launched in 2015 under the e-Courts Mission Mode Project to track, manage and reduce case pendency across India's judicial system

Kerala's Pala Bar Association makes history with all-women executive panel

In a historic move, the Pala Bar Association in Kerala has elected an all-women executive panel, setting a new precedent for gender-inclusive leadership in the legal profession

'We are not worried', says Justice Surya Kant on attacks against judiciary

Supreme Court Justice Surya Kant's remarks come in the wake of a recent ruling by the apex court that set a timeline for the President and Governors to act on bills, which triggered political backlash

Delhi court extends judicial custody of Naresh Balyan, others in MCOCA case

On March 1, the Court had granted 60 more days to the Delhi police to complete the investigation against Naresh Balyan

Flawed justice: Poor training weakens an already under-resourced system

To be sure, ticking boxes on pre-determined metrics does not fully reflect the reality of the justice-delivery system as experienced by its people

Order in the (content) court: Legality of legal influencers in focus

Nearly all the experts unanimously agree that law students should not be allowed to dish out legal advice under any circumstances

Southern states lead ranking on justice system, Karnataka retains top slot

Andhra Pradesh rises to second place from fifth last year; Telangana keeps third position: India Justice Report 2025

Less than 1,000 women in senior police roles: India Justice Report 2025

India's police force has less than 1,000 women in senior positions like Director-Generals and Superintendents of Police, with 90 per cent of all women in policing serving in the constabulary, according to a new report. The India Justice Report (IJR) 2025, initiated by Tata Trusts and supported by several civil society organisations and data partners, tracked the performance of states across four areas Police, Judiciary, Prisons and Legal Aid. According to the report, despite growing awareness about the need for gender diversity in law enforcement, not a single state or Union Territory has met its target for women's representation in the police force. The IJR 2025, released on Tuesday, ranked Karnataka as the top-performing state among the 18 large and mid-sized states in terms of justice delivery, maintaining its position from 2022. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu followed Karnataka, with the five southern states outperforming others due to better diversity, ...

SC sets aside HC order against Tehseen, says courts not moral police

Observing that courts are not supposed to do moral policing, the Supreme Court on Tuesday set aside an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court imposing a fine of Rs 10 lakh on political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla for mocking Jain monk Tarun Sagar. A bench of Justices Abhay S Okay and Ujjal Bhuyan quashed the 2019 order of the high court which had directed Poonawala and music composer and singer Vishal Dadlani to pay costs. The top court said the high court was swayed by the fact that the appellant criticised a priest belonging to a particular religion. "What kind of order is this? There was no question of imposing cost. The court acquitted the appellants but imposed cost. Courts are not supposed to do moral policing," the bench said. Poonawala had moved the top court against the high court judgement. The high court had asked Dadlani and Poonawalla to pay Rs 10 lakh each to get the FIR against them quashed. The high court had also said that the fine was imposed to give a messag

Cash-at-home row: Justice Yashwant Varma takes oath as Allahabad HC judge

This development comes amidst an ongoing investigation into allegations of semi-burnt sacks of cash being recovered from his residence just weeks ago

Progress is not only judgment but ease of justice: MP HC chief justice

Progress is not measured by laws and judgments alone, but by the ease with which people can seek and receive justice, Chief Justice SK Kait of the Madhya Pradesh High Court said. The chief justice made the statement while virtually inaugurating new family court buildings in Jhabua and Balaghat districts at a function. He also inaugurated housing facilities for judicial officers in Budhar (Shahdol), Rajendragram (Anuppur), Shajapur district, Kolaras (Shivpuri) and a child-friendly courtroom in Manawar (Dhar district). CJ Kait said progress is measured not just by laws and judgments but by the ease with which citizens can seek and receive justice. He said the new family court buildings in Jhabua and Balaghat will provide a well-structured space for handling family disputes. The buildings have courtrooms, filing sections, counselling rooms, a creche and other essential facilities, he said. The chief justice said the child-friendly courtroom at Manawar in Dhar district is designed to

Lawyers to abstain from Justice Sharma's swearing-in, may skip his court

Expressing anguish at the transfer of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma from the Delhi High Court to the Calcutta High Court, lawyers' bodies here have jointly informed the Chief Justice that they would abstain from attending the swearing-in ceremony of the judge and may not appear before his court. Justice Sharma was transferred from Delhi to the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday. The Bar Association, the Bar Library Club and the Incorporated Law Society also urged the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court in a joint representation not to assign any judicial work to Justice Sharma, whose transfer was notified by the Union government on a recommendation by the Collegium of the Supreme Court. "In the event, any determination is assigned to the Learned Judge, there is a possibility that our members may not appear before the Learned Judge," they said in the representation. Lawyers stayed away from attending proceedings at the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday to protest the recommendation for

Former HC judge Nirmal Yadav acquitted in 2008 cash-at-judge's door case

A special CBI court here on Saturday acquitted former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice (Retd) Nirmal Yadav and four others in the 2008 cash-at-judge's door case. In the sensational case, a packet containing Rs 15 lakh was allegedly wrongly delivered at the residence of Justice Nirmaljit Kaur, another sitting high court judge, on August 13, 2008. It was alleged that the cash was meant for Justice Nirmal Yadav as a bribe to influence a property deal. The Court of Special CBI Judge Alka Malik pronounced the verdict on Saturday. Defence counsel Vishal Garg said the court acquitted former Justice Nirmal Yadav and four others. There were a total five accused in the case, one of whom died during the trial. The court on Thursday had heard the final arguments in the case registered against Justice Yadav by the Central Bureau of Investigation and posted the pronouncement of verdict for March 29.

SC refuses urgent hearing on plea seeking FIR over cash at HC judge's home

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused an urgent mentioning of a plea seeking a direction to Delhi Police to lodge an FIR over the alleged discovery of semi-burnt stash of cash from the official residence of Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma. A bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna was urged by lawyer Mathews J Nedumpara that the plea be listed for urgent hearing before a bench as it pertained to larger public interest. The CJI, who has stopped the practice of oral mentioning of cases for urgent listing, said that the plea would come up. The lawyer said that the apex court has done a "commendable job" but an FIR was needed. "Don't make public statements," the CJI said. A woman and co-petitioner in the matter said that if such a case was against a common citizen then several probe agencies, like CBI and ED, would have been after that person. "This is quite enough. The plea will come up accordingly," the CJI said. A plea was filed by Nedumpara and three others on Sunday

Allahabad HC lawyers on indefinite strike over Justice Varma's transfer

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association on Tuesday began an indefinite strike to protest against the proposed transfer of Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Varma to the high court here. Leading the protesting lawyers gathered at gate number 3 of the high court, Bar Association President Anil Tiwari told reporters, "This protest is not against any court or judge but against those who have betrayed the judicial system." He added, "Our fight is against those involved in corruption and against a system that lacks transparency. For now, our demand is a reconsideration and withdrawal of the transfer order." The Bar Association had reiterated its opposition to Justice Varma's transfer on Monday and decided to go on an indefinite strike from Tuesday. Tiwari asserted the association was prepared for an all-out battle on this issue. "From the very beginning, there has been an attempt to cover up this matter. Today, lawyers across India are fighting this battle. Until a resolution is reache

Judicial work withdrawn from Justice Yashwant Varma, says Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court on Monday announced that judicial work from Justice Yashwant Varma, from whose official residence a large stash of cash was allegedly discovered after a fire, has been withdrawn with "immediate effect", till further orders. The announcement was made in a note issued by the high court. Another note attached to the cause list of the day on the high court's website stated that the court master of division bench-III, which was headed by Justice Varma, will give dates in matters listed before today. "In view of the recent events, the judicial work from hon'ble Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma is withdrawn with immediate effect, till further orders," the note released on the court's website under the name of registrar (listing) said. In an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court on March 22 uploaded on its website the inquiry report of Delhi High Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya -- complete with photos and videos -- regarding the alleged discovery of a substantial amount of cash

Sambhal violence: Mosque chief arrested ahead of judicial panel hearing

Shahi Jama Masjid management committee president Zafar Ali was arrested on Sunday after being questioned in connection with the November 24 violence during a protest against a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque. Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar Bishnoi told reporters, "Today, Jama Masjid's Zafar Ali has been arrested and sent to jail. He was also detained and questioned late last night before being released." "He was called again for questioning today. He was arrested after questioning," he added. A case has been registered against Ali under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 191(2) and 191(3) (rioting), 190 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 221 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 125 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty), 196 (promoting enmity between different

People's confidence in judicial system on decline, says Kapil Sibal

Asserting that the confidence in the judicial system seems to be on the decline in people's perception, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal has said alternatives can only be found when both the government and the judiciary accept that the systems in place, including for judges' appointments, are not working. In an interview with PTI, Sibal talked about what ails the judicial system, citing examples of how bail is not being granted in most cases by district and sessions courts, and highlighted the issue of the controversial speech made by Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court last year. Sibal, speaking as a lawyer and not as the president of the Supreme Court Bar association, refrained from commenting on the matter of alleged discovery of a huge stash of cash at the residence of Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma. "There is an in-house procedure to deal with the matter. Now, in the absence of facts I don't think as a responsible citizen of this country I should be ...

Watch: Supreme Court probe report shows burnt cash at Delhi judge's home

The report states that four to five semi-burnt stacks of Indian currency were found at Justice Yashwant Varma's residence during a firefighting operation on the night of March 14

Media must vie for independence, many being controlled: Justice Muralidhar

Former Orissa High Court chief justice S Muralidhar on Friday said the media in India has had to fight for its independence as many mainstream media are either owned by "large corporate houses or by political parties". Justice (retired) Muralidhar was speaking at BG Verghese Memorial Lecture on the topic 'Media, Courts, and Freedom of Expression' here. "The media's role is to hold power accountable, and it cannot do so effectively if it is beholden to corporate and political interests," he said. Highlighting the "increasing constraints on independent journalism" and the challenges posed by corporate and political influences on the media, he said major print and electronic media houses are largely controlled by corporate entities or political parties. "The media in India has had to fight for its independence and for its freedom. It is a fact though that much of the mainstream print and electronic media are either owned by large corporate houses or by political parties. Both print an