Coronavirus: Are Muslims intentionally licking cutlery, plates for Hindus to eat in it? Fact check
In the wake of spread of Corona Virus in India, a video is being circulated on social media alleging that a few Muslims infected with the deadly virus are licking plates and cutlery with an intention to make non-Muslims eat in it to further spread the virus among the non-Muslims. Fact Crescendo, a fact-checking website had earlier fact-checked the claim of the video when it was being circulate adding that Muslims were licking plates and cutlery to Hindus to eat in it on Eid.
The fact check story had then concluded that it was a culture and tradition in Bohra Community to lick their plates and cutlery after finishing their meal so as to not waste any food.
Below is the story published on https://english.factcrescendo.com/ in June 2019 and its finding.
Here's what the story revealed:
A Facebook user named ‘Shiv Rajput’ shared a post on 6 June 2019. The post as translated from Hindi quoted “Special preparations on Eid for Hindu brothers. Carefully look after the Hindu Muslim brother.” As per this post’s claim, Muslims are putting their spit on plate, bowl and spoon before feeding the Hindus on Eid’s occasion. Let us see what the facts are!
FACT CHECK:
We were sceptical because we did not see the hat of the boys resembling the cap of Muslims, which raised our suspicion for fact check. We then started our investigation by searching on Google with ‘muslims cleaning plate using their saliva’ key words. What we got in the search is below:
In this search we got a video given by ‘Vimeo’, which is similar to the video given in the above post. According to this story, this video is of Bohra community, People of Dawoodi Bohra community do not waste food. That is why after eating, he lick all the utensils such as plate, spoon and bowl to ensure no food wastage and then wash the vessels.
To confirm this, we searched the screen shot of the video on ‘Bing Image Search’. What we got in the search is below:
In this search we got links to various websites which have given information about Bohra culture. Some of them also mention the traditional practice of ‘No Food Wastage. The most important thing is that the cap worn by the boys in the video of the above post matched with the Bohra community people shown in our search. We took the picture shown below from a publication on the Bohra’s eating style published by ‘Outlookindia’ and compared it with the screenshot taken from the video of the above post. The hat matched in both images as shown below.
This search confirms that the video shown in the above post is of Bohra religion and not the feast of Muslims during the Eid for the Hindus.
IN CONCLUSION:
Fact Crescendo has fact checked and confirms that the video shared in the post is with a wrong narrative. We categorise the story as FALSE.
FactCrescendo advises its readers to refrain from sharing such misleading and communally biased videos and do a self-check on the true narrative of such incidents before believing them.
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CJI calls for 'unified judicial policy', use of technology to converge practices across courts
Jaisalmer (PTI): Pushing for a "unified judicial policy", Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday said technology can help align standards and practices across courts, creating a "seamless experience" for citizens, regardless of their location.
He said high courts -- due to the federal structure -- have had their own practices and technological capacities, and "regional barriers" can be broken down with technology to create a more unified judicial ecosystem.
Delivering the keynote address at the West Zone Regional Conference in Jaisalmer, Kant proposed the idea of a "national judicial ecosystem" and called for an overhaul of India's judicial system with the integration of technology.
"Today, as technology reduces geographical barriers and enables convergence, it invites us to think of justice not as regional systems operating in parallel, but as one national ecosystem with shared standards, seamless interfaces, and coordinated goals," he said.
He emphasised how the role of technology in the judiciary has evolved over time.
"Technology is no longer merely an administrative convenience. It has evolved into a constitutional instrument that strengthens equality before the law, expands access to justice, and enhances institutional efficiency," he said, highlighting how digital tools can bridge gaps in the judicial system.
Kant pointed out that technology enables the judiciary to overcome the limitations of physical distance and bureaucratic hurdles.
"It allows the judiciary to transcend physical barriers and bureaucratic rigidities to deliver outcomes that are timely, transparent and principled," he said, adding that the effective use of technology can modernise the delivery of justice and make it more accessible to citizens across the country.
The CJI called for implementing a "unified judicial policy".
He said India's judicial system has long been shaped by its federal structure, and different high courts have their own practices and technological capacities.
"India's vast diversity has led to different high courts evolving their own practices, administrative priorities and technological capacities. This variation, though natural in a federal democracy, has resulted in uneven experiences for litigants across the country," he said.
Kant underscored that predictability is crucial for building trust in the judicial system.
"A core expectation citizens place upon the courts is predictability," he said, adding that citizens should not only expect fair treatment but also consistency in how cases are handled across the country.
He pointed to the potential of technology in improving predictability.
"Technology enables us to track systemic delays and make problems visible rather than concealed," he said.
By identifying areas where delays occur, such as in bail matters or cases involving certain types of disputes, courts can take targeted action to address these issues and improve efficiency, Kant said.
The CJI explained that data-driven tools could identify the reasons behind delays or bottlenecks, allowing for faster, more focused solutions.
"Technology enables prioritisation by flagging sensitive case categories, monitoring pendency in real time and ensuring transparent listing protocols," he said.
Justice Surya Kant also discussed the importance of prioritising urgent cases where delays could result in significant harm. He highlighted his recent administrative order that ensures urgent cases, such as bail petitions or habeas corpus cases, are listed within two days of curing defects.
"Where delay causes deep harm, the system must respond with urgency," he stated, explaining that technology can help courts identify and expedite such cases.
Kant also raised the issue of the clarity of judicial decisions.
He noted that many litigants, despite winning cases, often struggle to understand the terms of their judgment due to complex legal language.
"Although the orders had gone in their favour, they remained unsure of what relief they had actually secured because the language was too technical, vague or evasive to understand," he said.
He advocated for more uniformity in how judgments are written.
"A unified judicial approach must therefore extend to how we communicate outcomes," he said.
The CJI also discussed the role of AI and digital tools in improving case management. He pointed to the potential of AI-based research assistants and digital case management systems to streamline judicial processes.
"Emerging technological tools are now capable of performing once-unthinkable functions. They can highlight missing precedent references, cluster similar legal questions, and simplify factual narration," he said, explaining how these technologies can help judges make more consistent decisions.
He also highlighted tools like the National Judicial Data Grid and e-courts, which are already helping to standardise processes like case filings and tracking.
Kant reiterated that the integration of technology into the judicial process is not just about improving efficiency but about upholding the integrity of the system and strengthening public trust.
"The measure of innovation is not the complexity of the software we deploy, but the simplicity with which a citizen understands the outcome of their case and believes that justice has been served," he said.
