Justice Ramana, who had taken over as head of the Indian judiciary from predecessor S A Bobde on April 24, 2021 as the 48th CJI, is scheduled to demit office on August 26 after a tenure of over 16 months.
CJI on access to justice: Justice Ramana was addressing the first All India District Legal Services Authorities Meet in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the judiciary to speed up the release of undertrials languishing in jails awaiting legal aid.
CJI Ramana said one of the biggest challenges before the judiciary at present is prioritising the matters for adjudication as judges cannot turn a blind eye to social realities.
CJI Ramana was speaking at an event organised at the Rajasthan Assembly by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
The CJI inaugurated the NALSA LACMS portal, mobile app and e-Prisons initiatives. The e-parole application is another initiative through which inmates can have continuity of social existence and interaction.
The Chief Justice also expressed disappointment that even after 75 years of Independence people have not understood the roles and responsibilities assigned by the Constitution to each Institution.
The letter petition has been signed by former judges of the top court Justices B Sudarshan Reddy, V Gopala Gowda, and AK Ganguly, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court AP Shah, former judge of Madras High Court Justice K Chandru, and former judge Karnataka High Court Mohammed Anwar.
PM Modi appealed to chief ministers and chief justices of high courts to give priority to cases related to undertrial prisoners languishing in jails and release them, as per law, based on human sensitivities
"Constitution provides separation of power among 3 organs and harmonious function between three organs strengthens democracy. While discharging our duty, we should be mindful of Lakshman Rekha," CJI said.
The stinging observations were made by a bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana while hearing two separate appeals filed by the Chhattisgarh government and an activist respectively challenging the high court’s decision to quash an FIR.
The law minister's remarks defending the agency came close on the heels of Chief Justice of India N V Ramana saying that the CBI's credibility has come under deep public scrutiny with the passage of time as its actions and inactions have raised questions in some cases.
The opposition party was reacting to CJI NV Ramana's remarks while delivering a lecture where he asked police officers complaining about harassment after government change to be impartial, saying "when you endear yourself to powers, you will have to face consequences".
The CJI said that often the best of talents enter this system in expectation of recognition and accolades, but, if the threat of infection looms large, honest and upright officers find it difficult to stand by their oath.
Justice Ramanna, the 48th Chief Justice of India, is scheduled to address the fourth edition of an international conference - Arbitration in the Era of Globalization in Dubai on Saturday.
The CJI said that at present there are four women judges in the apex court, which is the highest ever in its history, and in the near future, India will be witnessing the first-ever female CJI.
The remark came after the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president and senior advocate Vikas Singh urged the apex court to revert to a full physical hearing.
Justice Ramana also said that in recent times, physical attacks on judicial officers are on the rise and at times, there are concerted campaigns in the print and social media against judges if parties do not get a favourable order while these attacks appear to be "sponsored and synchronised."
CJI also said that the people also need to know the scope and limitations of the roles ascribed to the different organs of the state.
Justice Ramana said this while delivering the 40th convocation address of the Andhra Pradesh-based Sri Sathya Sai Institute for Higher Learning.
Chief Justice of India N V Ramana on Saturday in presence of the law minister said several courts do not have proper facilities and courts function out of dilapidated buildings.
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