The Supreme Court expressed concern over threats and attacks targeting retired Bombay High Court judge Justice Gautam Patel and his family, warning that such incidents threaten judicial independence and the administration of justice. The Court observed that fear and intimidation could discourage judges from delivering impartial judgments.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has stepped in over reports that former Bombay High Court judge Justice Gautam Patel and his family received death threats linked to a widely publicised judicial ruling. The CJI met the Indian High Commissioner in the UK and sought security cover for the retired judge and his family.
The Bombay Bar Association condemned alleged threats, intimidation, and attacks targeting retired Bombay High Court judge Gautam Patel and his family over the Dawoodi Bohra succession judgment. Calling it a direct assault on judicial independence and the rule of law, the Association demanded accountability and protection.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the judiciary is adopting technology and artificial intelligence as tools to support, not replace, judicial reasoning. He highlighted the Supreme Court’s focus on developing “Swadeshi Jurisprudence,” an indigenous legal-technology framework rooted in India’s constitutional values, diversity, and social realities.
A lecture by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant at the University of London’s Birkbeck campus drew controversy after a tense exchange during the question-and-answer session. Attendees raised concerns regarding freedom of dissent in India and remarks linked to the term “cockroach” during discussions on artificial intelligence and international law.
