Cyber crime has robbed senior citizens of thousands of crores of rupees: CJI
Patna (PTI): CJI Surya Kant on Saturday said he was "shocked" to note the high incidence of cyber crimes in the country, which have led common people, especially senior citizens, to be robbed of thousands of crores of rupees.
He was addressing a function in Pothahi, on the outskirts of Patna, where he laid the foundation stone for a new campus of the Bihar Judicial Academy.
"A judicial academy is the only effective platform for district judiciary to keep abreast of the newest complexities in civil or criminal laws like the fast-growing quagmire of cyber crimes," he said.
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"All of you have never thought of hearing offences like digital arrest and how these cyber crimes are being committed day and night, and the harassment caused, particularly, to senior citizens," he added.
The CJI said these are the latest challenges which the Indian judiciary is facing.
"I was shocked to know that in India alone, not a few hundred crores, (but) thousands of crores have been siphoned off, by way of extortion committed on senior citizens through cyber crime," he said.
The CJI said, therefore, the significance of sensitive training and updating of judicial officers to deal with these kinds of modern challenges is extremely important.
"Courts function through judges, but judges are also shaped by training. Judicial academies are, therefore, silent pillars that sustain the justice delivery system. They are spaces where legal knowledge is refined," he said.
"The judiciary today, let us acknowledge, operates in an environment of unprecedented change. Courts are increasingly called upon to address disputes arising from technological innovation, economic complexity, social transformation and evolving rights jurisprudence," he said.
Maintaining that public expectations from the justice delivery system are higher than ever, the CJI said judicial education cannot remain static and episodic, with continuous learning essential for maintaining judicial relevance and credibility.
"Judges must remain intellectually agile, socially aware and ethically grounded. Judicial academies serve as the institutional mechanism through which this ongoing education is structured and maintained. They provide judges with the tools to interpret law in a manner that is principled, pragmatic and sensitive to the life realities of the litigants," he said.
He said the ripple effect of judicial training extends far beyond courtrooms and classrooms, and they shape public trust in the rule of law.
"Justice, when delivered efficiently and humanly, reinforces democratic faith," he added.
The CJI also noted that Bihar's social diversity, historical experience and regional challenges provide a distinct context within which justice must operate.
"A judicial academy in Bihar must, therefore, engage with these realities, understanding local social dynamics, regional legal issues and everyday challenges faced by citizens while ensuring that adjudication remains consistent with constitutional values and national jurisprudence," he said.
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Centre must roll back LPG price hike, says Kerala CM
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday demanded that the Centre immediately roll back the recent steep hike in LPG prices, alleging that it has severely impacted common people and small businesses.
In a statement, Vijayan described the increase as "one of the most cruel" in the history of cooking gas price revisions, saying it has pushed ordinary households and entrepreneurs into distress.
He said the price of commercial LPG cylinders had been raised by Rs 993 in one go, crossing Rs 3,000, which would adversely affect the hotel and restaurant sector.
The hike in the price of 5-kg LPG cylinders by Rs 251.50 would hit migrant workers and small families who depend on them, he added.
The chief minister alleged that the hike came immediately after the conclusion of Assembly elections in states, placing an additional burden on common people, small-scale entrepreneurs and migrant labourers.
Pointing to the ongoing crisis in West Asia, Vijayan said the hospitality sector has already been facing a shortage of cooking gas for months and the latest price increase would be difficult to absorb.
The burden would ultimately be passed on to consumers, he said, warning that several small establishments, including those in Kerala, could be forced to shut down.
Accusing oil companies of prioritising profits over public welfare, he said such a trend of imposing additional financial burden on people cannot be accepted.
Vijayan also alleged that the Centre's policies favour corporate interests and called for a correction in approach.
He urged the Union government to withdraw the excessive hike without delay.
The price of commercial LPG was hiked by the steepest ever Rs 993 per 19-kg cylinder on May 1, marking the third straight monthly increase due to rising global energy prices linked to the West Asia conflict.
