Judicial independence intact: CJI defends ganesh puja with PM Modi amid criticism
New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud has addressed the controversy surrounding his participation in Ganesh Puja with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Facing criticism from the Opposition, who questioned the appropriateness of the meeting, the Chief Justice clarified that such gatherings are standard and are aimed at discussing judicial infrastructure rather than judicial matters.
During a lecture at the Loksatta series, CJI Chandrachud highlighted the routine nature of these meetings, which he said are essential for discussing key issues like new court buildings and judges’ accommodations. "We are mature enough to keep judicial matters out of any discussions with the executive," he stated, emphasising that interactions between the judiciary and government are necessary to ensure smooth functioning of the nation’s legal infrastructure.
Chandrachud pointed out that similar meetings take place in various states, where Chief Justices often meet with Chief Ministers for non-judicial discussions. "Such interactions underscore a mutual respect for boundaries between the judiciary and the political executive," he added. CJI Chandrachud, who is scheduled to retire on November 10, reiterated the importance of these exchanges in maintaining a cooperative environment among the government’s three branches.
The controversy erupted following Modi’s visit to Chandrachud’s residence for the puja in September, with leaders like Sanjay Raut and Priyanka Chaturvedi of the Shiv Sena (UBT) suggesting it could compromise judicial impartiality, particularly in cases involving their party. In response, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla defended the meeting, citing precedents such as a 2009 Iftar gathering attended by then CJI KG Balakrishnan and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Chandrachud also noted that while judges may interact with political figures socially, judicial matters remain strictly off-limits in such contexts.
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UP: Misled by GPS navigation, car falls into river from partially constructed bridge, 3 dead
Bareilly (UP), Nov 24: Three people died when their car fell into the Ramganga river from a partially constructed bridge here on Sunday, police said, adding that they suspect the driver was misled by its navigation system into taking the unsafe route.
The accident occurred around 10 am on the Khalpur-Dataganj road when the victims were travelling from Bareilly to Dataganj in the Badaun district, they said.
"Earlier this year, floods had caused the front portion of the bridge to collapse into the river, but this change had not been updated in the system," Circle Officer Ashutosh Shivam said.
The driver was using a navigation system and did not realise that the bridge was unsafe, driving the car off the damaged section, the police said.
There were no safety barriers or warning signs on the approach to the damaged bridge, leading to the fatal accident, Shivam said.
Upon receiving information, police teams from Faridpur, Bareilly and Dataganj police station rushed to the spot. They recovered the vehicle and the bodies from the river, Shivam added.
The circle officer said that bodies had been sent for post-mortem. Further investigation into the matter is underway.
— Bareilly Police (@bareillypolice) November 24, 2024
