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CJI talks of attempt to weaken judiciary, says need to overcome personal ambitions

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CJI talks of attempt to weaken judiciary, says need to overcome personal ambitions

Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, who faced severe criticism from four senior-most SC judges in January this year regarding administrative matters of the top court and an abortive move to impeach him, made an indirect reference to the matter in his address on the occasion of the Independence Day today.

Speaking after hoisting the national flag in Supreme Court at the function organised by Supreme Court Bar Association, the CJI said “to criticise, attack and destroy a system is quite easy” but “what is difficult and challenging is to transform it into a performing one”.

“For this, one has to transcend one’s personal ambitions and grievances. Rather constructive steps need to be taken with positive mindset of reform, no matter howsoever small”, he said while addressing a gathering after unfurling the national flag at the Supreme Court.

He said “concrete reforms must be undertaken with rationality, maturity, responsibility and composure” and that “it is necessary to be productive instead of being counter-productive”.

He added that there may be some elements who may endeavour to weaken the institution. “But we refuse, you and I altogether, to succumb to them…We have to serve the lady of justice, the queen of justice. She holds the scales of justice symbolising that the act of delivering and imparting justice has to be balanced as far as possible and that is the basic essence of justice. Anyone who tries to create any kind of dent in that balance is hurting the queen of justice. And when queen of justice sheds tears, possibly all of us will shed tears”, the CJI sought to remind.

Claiming democracy was at stake, the judges had pointed fingers at the administration of the Supreme Court and flagged their concerns about assignment of sensitive cases to junior judges.

CJI Dipak Misra had faced severe criticism from four senior-most SC judges in January this year when, in an unprecedented step, the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court held a press conference to raise certain grievances about the administrative orders of the CJI.

The judges had said they were discharging their debt to the nation and that addressing media was their last resort.

Referring to the mention of “polity of identity” in Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad’s speech at the event, CJI Misra said: “I am happy that the Law Minister has talked about the identity of the citizens. This identity has to be founded on the idea of humanism which is fundamentally constitutional and legitimate.

“How far we follow this path only the future will tell.”

Speaking earlier, the Law Minister, while recalling the trauma of partition, said that despite large-scale destruction and dislocations, India chose not to be theocratic. Referring to the different phases of development over last seven decades, the Law Minister said initially it was a “polity of want, then came polity of identity and now we have polity of aspiration and hope”.

Prasad also flagged the issue of frivolous PILs. PILs were “respected” and “accepted”, Prasad said adding the “judiciary must intervene to set things right” where there was “deprivation of the rights of the poor, the marginalised, abuse of power for nepotism it personal purposes, or downright corruption by executive heads, political or bureaucratic”.

He added that “while I notice with satisfaction that the Supreme Court is imposing a lot of cost on fly by night PILs, but there need to have some kind of audit, some kind of understanding the larger perspective of PIL is not lost”.

The Law Minister also called for striking a healthy balance between the three organs of the state, saying that governance of the country must be left to the elected representatives as governance and accountability go together.

There have been voices from the executive about interference from courts. The SC has pulled up the government on a number of issues, giving stern directions on several issues like police reforms, mob lynching, aadhaar, etc.

India News

India hits back at Shehbaz Sharif at UN, says terror will have consequences

India hit back at Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s UN speech, with New Delhi warning that terrorism will have consequences.

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India has responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks at the United Nations, delivering a strong message on terrorism and warning that such actions will have consequences.

The response came after Mr Sharif addressed the UN and raised issues concerning India and Pakistan. New Delhi rejected the narrative presented by the Pakistani prime minister and highlighted the issue of terrorism.

India’s message was delivered by Petal Gehlot, who represented New Delhi in the response to Pakistan.

India warns Pakistan over terrorism

India’s response focused on Pakistan’s record and its approach towards terrorism. New Delhi made clear that terrorism cannot be separated from its consequences and that those responsible cannot expect such actions to go unanswered.

The Indian side also pushed back against the claims and allegations made by Mr Sharif during his UN speech.

The exchange comes amid continuing tensions between India and Pakistan, with terrorism remaining a major point of disagreement between the two countries.

Shehbaz Sharif’s UN remarks

In his address, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke about India-Pakistan relations and raised several issues concerning New Delhi.

India subsequently exercised its right of reply to respond to Pakistan’s statements at the United Nations.

New Delhi’s response underlined its position that terrorism remains a serious issue in the relationship and that there would be consequences for terrorist actions.

The latest exchange at the UN adds to the continuing diplomatic confrontation between the two neighbouring countries.

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Veeramani POCSO case: Vijay questions Stalin over earlier probe

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has questioned MK Stalin over the handling of the Veeramani POCSO case, while Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected anyone.

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Actor Vijay

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay has questioned DMK president MK Stalin over the handling of the POCSO case involving Gem Granites founder R Veeramani. The political exchange follows renewed investigation into allegations involving minor girls.

Vijay’s remarks came as the ruling TVK stepped up its questions about how the case was handled during the previous DMK government. The party’s IT wing has alleged that the earlier investigation was weakened and questioned why a final report was filed.

The allegations have been rejected by the DMK. Stalin has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to protect anyone in the case and has called the allegations false and defamatory.

What did Vijay say about the Veeramani case?

Vijay questioned Stalin over the handling of the case and demanded an explanation from the former chief minister.

The TVK has specifically questioned why action was not taken against Veeramani during the previous administration and why the earlier investigation resulted in a closure report.

The party has also raised questions about the role of officials involved in the earlier investigation. These are political allegations made by the TVK and have not been established as facts.

What is the Veeramani POCSO case?

The case concerns allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving R Veeramani, the founder of Gem Granites.

The case came under renewed scrutiny after a special POCSO court rejected an earlier closure report and ordered further investigation. The expanded probe has subsequently identified additional alleged survivors who were minors at the time of the alleged offences, according to current reporting.

The investigation is also examining the circumstances surrounding the earlier probe and whether there were any lapses in how the case was handled.

What has MK Stalin said?

Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected Veeramani.

He has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to shield anyone in the case. Stalin has also said that everyone responsible for the alleged offences, including anyone who aided or attempted to protect the accused, should face the law.

The DMK president has further said that the focus should remain on securing justice for the affected girls rather than making political allegations.

Why has the case become a political issue?

The Veeramani case has become the subject of a political dispute between the ruling TVK and the DMK over the handling of the earlier investigation.

The TVK is questioning the previous government’s handling of the case, while the DMK has denied that it intervened to protect the accused.

At this stage, claims about political interference or deliberate weakening of the earlier investigation should be treated as allegations unless established by the ongoing investigation or judicial proceedings.

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Women wrestlers challenge Brij Bhushan’s acquittal in sexual harassment case

Four women wrestlers have challenged the acquittal of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case.

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Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Four women wrestlers have approached a Delhi court challenging the acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case.

The wrestlers have also challenged the acquittal of co-accused Vinod Tomar. The matter is scheduled to be heard by a Special Judge at the Rouse Avenue Courts.

The appeal challenges the order passed by an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate on August 3, 2026, when Brij Bhushan and Tomar were acquitted in the case.

Wrestlers challenge court’s reasoning

In their appeal, the wrestlers have argued that the acquittal order is legally unsustainable and that the evidence was not assessed appropriately.

They have also alleged that the order relied on assumptions about how victims of sexual assault and harassment were expected to behave instead of assessing the evidence and circumstances of the complainants.

The challenge seeks judicial scrutiny of the findings that resulted in the acquittal of Brij Bhushan and Tomar.

Brij Bhushan was acquitted in August

The Rouse Avenue court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on August 3 in the sexual harassment case involving women wrestlers. The court’s decision followed consideration of the evidence and statements presented during the proceedings.

The case had emerged after several women wrestlers accused the former WFI chief of sexual harassment. The allegations had led to a major protest by wrestlers in 2023.

The latest appeal means the acquittal is now being challenged before a higher court.

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