Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud “If by political pressure you mean pressure from the government, I can tell you that in my 24 years as a judge, I have never felt any political pressure from those in power. This is because, in India, our democratic traditions ensure that we live lives relatively isolated from the political arm of the government.”
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud is known for his compassion and caring nature towards his colleagues. Advocate Manasi Chaudhary shared an incident where the Chief Justice and his wife took exceptional care of her when she fell ill at the office. This heartwarming glimpse into his leadership style showcases his balance between his high office demands and deep care for his colleagues.
Advocate J Sai Deepak filed a new petition challenging NEET-UG 2024 results before the SC vacation bench but was refused an urgent hearing. The petition questions the grace marks awarded to students, alleging statistical improbability and a question paper leak. The NTA has announced a review of candidates receiving grace marks. Several petitions contest the NTA’s decision.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, speaking at an event in London, stated that in his 24 years as a judge, he has never felt direct political pressure from the government. He emphasized the need for judges to consider the societal and political impacts of their decisions. CJI also discussed the impact of technology on the judiciary, addressing social media criticism and the need for legislative audits to assess laws’ impact on the judicial system.
The Supreme Court of India clarified that the Constitution does not specify criteria for government servant promotions, leaving this to the discretion of the legislature and executive. The bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, highlighted the flexibility in determining promotion norms within the administrative framework. This sheds light on the evolving emphasis on merit in promotion criteria. The judgment emphasized that ‘merit-cum-seniority’ and ‘seniority-cum-merit’ are not mandated by law but are flexible and fluid concepts, providing dynamic guidelines for developing promotion policies.
Controversy surrounds the appointment of Himachal Pradesh High Court judges, as two district judges challenge the decision in the Supreme Court. Chirag Bhanu Singh and Arvind Malhotra, expressing discontent over alleged favoritism, claim oversight despite their seniority in Solan and Bilaspur districts. They have petitioned the Supreme Court to review the appointments.
The Supreme Court, led by CJI DY Chandrachud, will hear SBI’s plea on March 11 for an extension until June 30 to disclose electoral bond details from April 2019. This plea has implications for political funding transparency. The court will also address a contempt plea filed by ADR. The complexity of tracking and reporting these financial instruments is underscored.
CJI Chandrachud emphasized the need for diverse representation in international arbitration during Delhi Arbitration Week. He highlighted biases in arbitrator selection, citing a case involving rapper Jay-Z. Chandrachud advocated for the inclusion of highly qualified Indian arbitrators and cautioned against AI bias. The event also addressed biases in arbitration and the empowering nature of arbitration for parties.
Answers to Why State Bank of India (SBI) has requested an extension until June 30 to disclose the identities of Electoral Bond donors to the Election Commission, postponing the disclosure until after the Lok Sabha elections in April-May, are here. SBI outlined logistical challenges, highlighting the complexities involved in complying with the Supreme Court’s directive, emphasizing transparency while safeguarding donor anonymity.
The Supreme Court today overturned a 1998 ruling, stating that lawmakers can be prosecuted for receiving bribes for speeches or votes. CJI DY Chandrachud emphasized that bribery erodes democracy. The decision arose from the Sita Soren v. Union of India case, marking a pivotal shift in lawmakers’ immunity from criminal prosecution for bribery.