Caste factor will not play role in Chikkaballapur constituency: Veerappa Moily
Doddaballapur, Apr 15: Former Union minister M Veerappa Moily said Monday caste factor will not play a role in the Vokkaliga-dominated parliamentary constituency of Chikkaballapur, from where he is seeking re-election, as it has been a Congress bastion since its formation in 1977 and lost only once.
"This constituency is a Congress bastion. We have lost only once since its formation in 1977. We had lost to R L Jalappa in 1996 Lok Sabha elections. He had fought on Janata Dal ticket, then. Hence, caste factor will not play any role here," he told PTI in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of his third round of electoral campaign in Doddaballapur city.
Chikkaballapur, nearly 60 km from the state capital Bengaluru, is dominated by Vokkaligas, with about 4 lakh votes.
The hat-trick win of a Brahmin candidate V Krishna Rao on Congress ticket between 1984 to 1991 is a good indicator that caste politics does not play a role in this Vokkaliga-dominated parliamentary constituency, Moily, aiming for a third term from the seat, said.
The BJP, however, feels a large chunk of the Vokkaliga "vote bank" will shift to the party because of the disenchantment over the coalition pact between the Congress and the JD(S).
BJP's Karnataka in-charge Muralidhar Rao said a substantial number of Vokkaliga voters of JD(S) will shift to BJP in Old Mysuru region including Chikkaballapur constituency.
Moily, 79, said that this constituency is "secular" and does not tolerate communal forces.
Moreover, as a chief minister, he said he has done a lot of work which has benefited the people of the state, irrespective of their castes, which, he added, will fetch him votes.
"I have treated everybody equal. I introduced common entrance test, due to which good number of medical seats were given to people irrespective of their castes. I took water and irrigation projects in this region. All these good work which I did, I believe people remember," he said.
In the last assembly election in 2018, Congress won five and JD(S) won two seats, out of eight belonging to this parliamentary constituency, which is an advantage for his chances of winning the seat, Moily said.
"Since both JD(S) and Congress are campaigning together, he hopes transfer of JD(S) votes to the Congress... I am also expecting a lead in Yelahanka assembly constituency," he said.
Also, despite a Modi-wave in last Lok Sabha elections, he won from Chikkaballapur, defeating then BJP candidate B N Bache Gowda by just over 9,000 votes, Moily said.
This time, there is a direct contest between BJP and Congress on the seat after the coalition formed between the grand old party and the JD(S).
Asked if the absence of a JD(S) candidate will consolidate Vokkaliga votes for Bache Gowda, who belongs to the same community, Moily said it would have been so had his rival BJP candidate worked for the constituency.
"When he was the transport minister, he could not even provide a bus stand here. He could not build a good hospital. He did not do anything on underground drainage system. All these, I have done. I don't think Vokkaliga votes will consolidate in BJP's favour," he said.
Asked if discord between JD(S) and Congress in Mandya is having a ripple effect in all parliamentary seats in Karnataka, Moily said, "Both coalition partners are fighting together. More than any constituency, there is much more harmony between JD(S) and us," he said.
The constituency has about 5.75 lakh SC/ST voters, 1.2 lakh Kuruba voters and 1.5 lakh each of OBC and Balija voters. The BSP commands its own vote base, including those of educated SC/ST voters.
The election to the parliamentary constituency will be held on April 18.
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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.
