CBI books its own Deputy Legal Advisor for alleged Forging Signature of her Boss
New Delhi, Nov 13: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked its own Deputy Legal Advisor (DLA) attached to an anti-corruption unit for alleged forgery of her Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs) for three consecutive years.
The accused Beena Raizada is currently with the agency’s Anti Corruption-VI (Delhi) which is handling the Vyapam scam cases.
The FIR has been registered following an inquiry into allegations that Ms. Raizada that forged signatures on her work appraisal reports. She had joined the Patna’s Anti-Corruption Branch as Senior Public Prosecutor in May 2014 and on promotion, she became a DLA in November 2014.
Ms. Raizada was relieved from there in January 2017 and transferred to the AC-VI unit.
In the office of Department of Prosecution at Delhi headquarters of the CBI, the accused personally submitted her three appraisal reports for 2014, 2015 and 2016, along with the assessment notes for the same period, purportedly bearing the signatures of V.K Singh, the then Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) and head of the Patna’s anti-corruption branch.
All the said assessment notes certified the performance of Ms. Raizada as “excellent.” However, during the inquiry, Mr. Singh — who is now the Inspector-General of Police of the Jaipur Range in Rajasthan — said the signatures on the assessment notes resembled his, but he had not signed those documents.
Mr. Singh said Ms. Raizada was not on duty for 90 days during 2014 and 2015 and therefore, there was no question of writing an assessment report in her favour. He stated that similarly, there was no question of writing an assessment report in her favour for 2016 as he was repatriated in 2015 to his parent department.
“It is also found that as per procedure, the assessment notes for the Law officers of the level of Assistant Public Prosecutor, Public Prosecutor and Senior Public Prosecutor posted in the Branch are issued by the DIG/Head of Branch towards Annual Appraisal,” said the agency.
However, during the relevant period, Ms. Raizada, as the then DLA, was working under Joint Director in Patna and therefore, the DIG could not have issued the said assessment notes. “This prima facie establishes that the signatures of Mr. Singh were forged with the intention to get her APARs processed favourably,” the agency said.
Courtesy: theworldnews.net
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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.
