Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant addressed the criticism over his alleged “do not waste our time” comment given during court proceedings when a lawyer sought urgent hearing on the police action against students during the Cockroach Janta Party-led protest march on July 20. As the issue snowballed, earlier on Friday, the CJI issued a clarification and denied reports that he had refused to list a case concerning alleged police excesses during the CJP protests, stating that no such petition had ever been filed before the Supreme Court.
In an exclusive conversation with Times Now, when asked over his alleged comment, said that there was no clarification as such. He said that it is only because the statement being made in the media and the way it was reported was completely misleading and based upon misinformation.
CJI said, “there was no petition filed in the Supreme Court. Therefore, there was no question of taking up any matter. So, what I was indicating to the council was only that he should first put up a petition. Then only the question of seeing any document, any proof, any video or audio or any proof of the kind of allegations he was making, that would arise. So, unfortunately, some of the lawyers who act in a very casual manner and do not take the public cause before espousing it so seriously, that creates a problem. So, till morning 10 AM, I kept on waiting that let me see that whether somebody is filing the petition, particularly that council who made a mention.”
“So, it is very shocking that you make a mention and you don’t file a petition. Neither it was filed earlier nor till 10 AM in the morning,” he said.
When asked whether he (CJI) was saying that a letter petition was sent or something, the Chief Justice of India said, “No, that letter was addressed to the Secretary General, not even addressed properly. And a letter is not to be, when the council itself, the advocate wants to file, then he knows what is the format of a petition. Otherwise, I have always made a statement that the Supreme Court is open 24X7 and our doors are always open for any person who espouses the cause of justice and who seeks redressal of grievances before the Supreme Court.”
Speaking further, CJI said, “Today, when some petitions were filed and the moment it was mentioned a particular diary number, that is an acknowledgment of filing of a case, I immediately listed those cases.”
When asked whether he will be ensuring that both sides get justice, CJI said, “Absolutely, that it’s not only every side must get justice. Those who deserve in accordance with the law, they should get the justice.”
“It’s not that someone has filed the petition, therefore, it will be one way of listening to the matters. The courts always keep the aspect of every, the viewpoint of every party, the aspect of the case and whatever the law requires and the constitutional principles require, the court will accordingly act upon.”
CJI Surya Kant on SC banning Uploading of Court Proceedings on Social Media
When asked about the illegal uploading of court proceedings clippings that has become a raging issue today, CJI said, “Yes, the Supreme Court Bar Association in fact came with a petition today and the Bar Association, the stakeholders and particularly, I am so happy that members of the Bar themselves have realised that our institution is being defamed and in a way, demoralized also by way of putting the selective video clippings and then misrepresenting them and creating a different kind of political wrong impression before the innocent public who are not well conversant with the court functioning, who do not have any easy access to the entire day’s court proceedings.”
“So, they are being misled by quoting a particular passage, and today, it was rightly pointed out… that in some of the videos where clips with the aid of AI are shown, today you can even… the lips are shown as if somebody is speaking, and then you attribute the words which were never expressed. So, this kind of danger which can create complications for the system and which will be a very unhealthy kind of practice that needs to be curbed, and today, the Bar Association has come forward, and we have issued some interim measures,” the CJI said.
Speaking further, the CJI said, “We have also invited all stakeholders to put their suggestions. We are open to any kind of ideas on this, but we want that it should be a regulatory regime where the proper information, correct information, the court’s proceedings, those should be reported also. There is no restriction imposed on the reporting of the court proceedings that must be reported.”
“Those must be brought to the public domain, but not some of the people have been doing it for their whatever gain they want to have out of it,” CJI said.
CJI Surya Kant on Closure of Delhi Metro Stations
When asked regarding the closing of Delhi’s metro stations, as yesterday CBI President Vikas Singha raised the issue of how problems were being faced by litigants and lawyers, the registry staff, the CJI said, “Yes, I took it with the Delhi administration, and they immediately responded to that. The metro station of the Supreme Court was not functional today also, but they did a commendable job. On the nearby, the next metro station, they provided the public transport system to the members of the bar, and no inconvenience as I have been told was caused today, and hopefully from Monday in any case, the things should start.”
Chief Justice on Temporary Shutting Down of Internet in Delhi
On the issue of shutting down the internet in central Delhi, problems faced by the people, as the issue came before you, the CJI said, “I don’t think so that any such problems were being faced by them, and to be honest, nothing has been brought to my notice.”